Boston Mayor Chosen as Labor Secretary

Flag_of_the_United_States_Department_of_Labor_1915-1960-e1612885873827

President Joe Biden has chosen Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to be his labor secretary. Walsh would oversee OSHA and MSHA, which are part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

In 2016, as Mayor of Boston, Walsh filed an ordinance to give the city the right to deny, revoke or suspend a work permit based on the applicant’s OSHA history. Walsh’s proposal came shortly after two workers were killed in Boston when a trench they were working in flooded. The workers’ employer had been cited previously by OSHA for safety violations. The measure was passed by city council and signed into law by the mayor. The resulting Mattocks Higgins Affidavit is named after the two workers who were killed. The owner of Atlantic Drain Service, Kevin Otto, was sentenced to two years in prison for two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case. OSHA fined the company $1.48 million. The fines are still being contested. Atlantic Drain Service had been cited by OSHA for similar hazards in 2007 and 2012.

Son of Immigrants, Union Leader

Walsh grew up in Boston. His parents were immigrants. Walsh joined the Laborers’ Union Local 223 at age 21 and had been the union’s president. As an elected Massachusetts state representative, Walsh worked to ban hazardous chemicals.

Walsh’s nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The Biden administration will also make political appointments at OSHA and MSHA. The No. 1 administrator at OSHA also requires Senate confirmation, but the No. 2 position does not. There have been calls for the incoming Biden team to fill the No. 2 OSHA slot quickly so that person can fast track the administration’s effort to enact an Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 in the workplace.

Purchase NASP’s Certified Safety Manager Course

Related Posts

How to Save Money By Developing Your Own Safety Programs

How to Save Money By Developing Your Own Safety Programs

06.09.2025 Compliance
While prioritizing workplace safety is essential, it can also be expensive. Developing safety programs internally instead of outsourcing training can…
Read More
How to Maintain Accurate Safety Records

How to Maintain Accurate Safety Records

06.09.2025 Compliance
Maintaining safety records helps keep your organization legally compliant and builds a culture where every employee returns home safely each…
Read More
OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements

OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements

06.09.2025 Compliance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) covers standards for safe and healthy workplaces in the United States. It establishes…
Read More
cta1-img

See our available Live and online cOURSES