President-elect Joe Biden appointed David Michaels, former head of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to his Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board.

Mr. Michaels, an epidemiologist and professor of environmental and occupational health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA from 2009 to 2017. Under President Bill Clinton, Mr. Michaels served as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environment, Safety and Health.

President-elect Biden also announced Saturday that Jane Hopkins, a Seattle-based nurse, and Jill Jim, executive director of the Navajo Nation Department of Health, have been named to the board.

The board will be co-chaired by former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. David Kessler, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Yale University epidemiology professor Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith.

The National Safety Council announced that it is applauding President-elect Joe Biden for adding Dr. David Michaels to the Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board, ensuring that workplace safety has a voice on the task force, according to a statement. NSC called for this appointment on Nov. 17, because with 157 million people in the workforce, employers play a pivotal role in curbing the spread of the virus. Notably, employers can lead on important measures such as screening, testing and contact tracing.

According to NSC, Dr. Michaels brings a deep understanding of the safety challenges facing both workers and their employers. “We have the utmost confidence in his expertise in the midst of an unparalleled safety crisis,” said the statement. “Further, we stand ready to assist and support the task force members and incoming Administration to protect our nation’s workers and help everyone safely adjust to the future world of work, understanding that it has been forever changed.”