Each day, millions of Americans leave their homes and report to jobs that provide for their families, strengthen our communities and grow our economy. Prospective employees have the right to know the full scope of the safety records of an industry before entering the workforce, and all workers have the right to speak up when they believe something is unsafe.
Over the past seven years, the Obama administration has worked to advance transparency, participation and collaboration across government through the Open Government Initiative. As part of this effort, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule that increases data transparency by making information about workplace injuries and illnesses available online. Behavioral science indicates that publicly disclosing this kind of data helps reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. Why? Employers want to demonstrate to investors, job seekers, customers, and the broader public that their workplaces are safe and healthy environments.