Who knows what direction OSHA takes after the presidential elections? But whoever replaces the longest-serving OSHA boss, Dr. David Michaels – be he or she Republican or Democrat – the new chief will only have the time and resources to focus on two or three priorities they want to accomplish.
Meanwhile, down in the bowels of OSHA, career standards-setting employees go about their work with a “this too shall pass” political philosophy honed over years of seeing various OSHA regimes come and go. These careerists are dedicated to specific standards projects that often take years and years to bubble to the surface. But you should know some of the standards issues on the agency’s long-range radar. Depending on priorities in OSHA’s front office, some of these long-term action items as listed on the latest semi-annual regulatory calendar could suddenly become hot.