"There's a new sheriff in town," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis warned during her 2009 swearing-in ceremony. Sure enough, during the past year and a half, OSHA investigators have issued citations for egregious violations in 17 cases.

This is more than twice as many egregious cases as were issued during the two years before the current administration took office.

OSHA inspectors cite egregious violations when an employer shows multiple instances of willful and flagrant indifference to correcting workplace hazards. "We will not tolerate this type of blatant and egregious disregard for the health and safety of workers. Employers need to know there will be consequences," said OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels.