With a new occupant in the White House, ISHN thought it a good time to conduct an online flash survey to find out what our readers think about the federal agency that most impacts their jobs, OSHA. Will OSHA change under the Trump administration? Should OSHA change under the Trump administration?

Survey respondents were split on whether or not some existing occupational safety and health standards should be repealed. The split occurred along job responsibility lines. Click here to find out who favored repeal and who opposed it – and what standard those who favored repealing most wanted to see eliminated.

Questions about the size of OSHA’s budget elicited responses that lined up along the same division, with approximately half of those who would like some of the current OSHA standards repealed saying they would like less funding for enforcement this year, while 32 percent of those opposed to repealing standards indicating a preference for increased funding for the agency. Click here for the details.

Unlike enforcement, there was considerably more agreement about funding for OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Compared to last year, 86% of respondents said they’d either like increased funding for VPP, or no change. Respondents involved with safety-related functions are more likely to have a higher funding expectation.

The numbers

All respondents

• 14% - OSHA should get less than last year
• 43% - OSHA should get same as last year
• 43% - OSHA should get more than last year

By repeal expectation

Those who would like current OSHA standard(s) repealed:

• 22% - OSHA should get less than last year
• 37% - OSHA should get same as last year
• 41% - OSHA should get more than last year

Those who would NOT like current OSHA standard(s) repealed (n=100)

• 8% - OSHA should get less than last year
• 48% - OSHA should get same as last year
• 44% - OSHA should get more than last year

By Job Function

Safety-related functions

• 11% - OSHA should get less than last year
• 36% - OSHA should get same as last year
• 53% - OSHA should get more than last year

Corporate management

• 22% - OSHA should get less than last year
• 42% - OSHA should get same as last year
• 36% - OSHA should get more than last year

Who participated in our survey?

Respondents belong to a variety of industries, with 61% involved with manufacturing with the next largest group of respondents (12%) belonging to building materials and construction business. Other industries represented: government (8%); wholesaler/retailer (3%); distributor (2%); freight forwarder/third party logistics/transportation services (1%), utility (1%), mining (<1%) as well as consulting, education – university, education – workforce development, consultation & training (eh&s), insurance, miscellaneous manufacturing, aftermarket splicer parts, ehs consulting, engineering, fire protection sprinklers, not-for-profit - plant genetics, ppe and zinc electro plating.

Next: Readers weigh in on what they think should be the top priorities of the next OSHA chief.