The webpage on which OSHA posts information about its ongoing activities has not seen any new updates since Jan. 19, 2017 – the day before President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

There was no similar gap after Barack Obama was inaugurated as president on Jan. 20, 2009. Some sixteen notices were posted between Jan. 20 and Jan. 30, 2009, detailing the good (OSHA recognizes Falewitch Construction Services Inc. of La Vista, Neb., for achievements in workplace safety and health), the bad (El Paso, Texas, construction contractor fined $106,200 for alleged workplace safety violations) and the regulatory (proposed rulemaking on respirator fit testing revisions and occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl).

Who's in charge?

It’s unclear when – or if – the agency will resume letting the public know about its activities. It’s also not clear whether or not such transparency will depend upon OSHA having a new leader at its helm.

Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor under Barack Obama, left his post on Jan. 10th to return to academia at George Washington University. Trump is unlikely to nominate his predecessor for several months, according to D.C. observers. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab is the current acting OSHA chief.

The EPA's climate change webpage

The OSHA website hasn’t gotten as much attention as the EPA website has. In its first day in office, the Trump administration ordered the climate change webpage removed from the EPA website – something which prompted scientists and university professors around the world to embark upon a hasty effort to archive EPA climate change data, so that it would remain available. The climate change page on the EPA website includes information on the causes, effects and adaptation strategies.

After a public backlash, the administration reversed its decision and allowed the climate change information to remain on the site…for now.