Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Indiana
Related: About this forumIndiana OSHA failed its workers during crisis: The results were deadly
Indiana OSHA failed its workers during crisis: The results were deadly
Indianapolis Star
October 19, 2022
As COVID-19 swept across Indiana, thousands of workers in crowded factories, retail stores and nursing homes were ringing alarm bells about unsafe conditions. But the state agency dedicated to ensuring Hoosier workplace safety and health repeatedly failed them.
An IndyStar investigation found the Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administrations pattern of inaction particularly before vaccines were widely available placed workers in an impossible position: Continue working and endanger their lives, or stay home and risk their livelihoods. ... Thousands became sick. Many lost their jobs. Some died. ... The investigation found other states and the federal government, which oversees worker safety in about two dozen states without standalone programs, conducted more inspections and adopted more safety rules to protect workers.
In Indiana, however, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated long-standing problems within the small state watchdog agency, including inadequate staffing and funding, limits imposed by lawmakers on what IOSHA can do, and the agency's business-friendly approach to enforcement.
{snip}
IndyStars investigation found:
IOSHA conducted inspections on fewer than 50 of the more than 6,000 COVID complaints it received.
When IOSHA did conduct inspections, many done remotely, it sometimes missed key information and regularly agreed with the companies version of events after interviewing employees handpicked by management.
IOSHA issued few citations. Fines were almost always reduced drastically, even for serious violations.
Major RV and vehicle manufacturers in Elkhart County, where workers said the pandemic accelerated an already backbreaking pace, drew some of the highest numbers of complaints. None were inspected.
Since 1986, the number of inspectors at IOSHA has dwindled by half from 81 to 40 in June even as federal audits repeatedly cited the agency's inadequate staffing.
State funding for the agency has remained stagnant for more than a decade. Today, Indiana spends less per worker, on average, for worker safety enforcement than other similar Midwestern states.
{snip}
Indianapolis Star
October 19, 2022
As COVID-19 swept across Indiana, thousands of workers in crowded factories, retail stores and nursing homes were ringing alarm bells about unsafe conditions. But the state agency dedicated to ensuring Hoosier workplace safety and health repeatedly failed them.
An IndyStar investigation found the Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administrations pattern of inaction particularly before vaccines were widely available placed workers in an impossible position: Continue working and endanger their lives, or stay home and risk their livelihoods. ... Thousands became sick. Many lost their jobs. Some died. ... The investigation found other states and the federal government, which oversees worker safety in about two dozen states without standalone programs, conducted more inspections and adopted more safety rules to protect workers.
In Indiana, however, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated long-standing problems within the small state watchdog agency, including inadequate staffing and funding, limits imposed by lawmakers on what IOSHA can do, and the agency's business-friendly approach to enforcement.
{snip}
IndyStars investigation found:
IOSHA conducted inspections on fewer than 50 of the more than 6,000 COVID complaints it received.
When IOSHA did conduct inspections, many done remotely, it sometimes missed key information and regularly agreed with the companies version of events after interviewing employees handpicked by management.
IOSHA issued few citations. Fines were almost always reduced drastically, even for serious violations.
Major RV and vehicle manufacturers in Elkhart County, where workers said the pandemic accelerated an already backbreaking pace, drew some of the highest numbers of complaints. None were inspected.
Since 1986, the number of inspectors at IOSHA has dwindled by half from 81 to 40 in June even as federal audits repeatedly cited the agency's inadequate staffing.
State funding for the agency has remained stagnant for more than a decade. Today, Indiana spends less per worker, on average, for worker safety enforcement than other similar Midwestern states.
{snip}
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
1 replies, 2355 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (9)
ReplyReply to this post
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Indiana OSHA failed its workers during crisis: The results were deadly (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Jan 2023
OP
TigressDem
(5,121 posts)1. Gee I wonder WHY?