Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Audit Reveals Cal/OSHA Crisis Amid Regulation Cuts

7/24/2025

38 3

Summary

Chavez-DeRemer Undermines Safety

A California audit uncovers alarming dysfunction in Cal/OSHA, revealing a staggering 32% vacancy rate that jeopardizes workplace safety. Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has slashed 63 worker protection regulations, favoring corporate interests over the well-being of employees. This troubling trend threatens to escalate preventable injuries and fatalities nationwide.

Summary

Labor Department Rollbacks

The U.S. Labor Department is set to overhaul more than 60 workplace regulations, deeming them outdated. Among the proposed changes are the elimination of wage protections for home health workers and crucial safety standards in construction and mining. Critics warn that these rollbacks threaten the safety of women and minorities, jeopardizing lives and eroding essential worker rights in the name of economic growth.

History

Historical Context

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 established OSHA to ensure safe working conditions in the U.S. Over the years, OSHA has protected millions of workers, including 29 million in construction. However, a recent California audit revealed a 32% vacancy rate in Cal/OSHA, raising concerns that proposed regulatory rollbacks may jeopardize worker safety and reverse decades of labor rights progress.

1 of 3

Chavez-DeRemer Undermines Safety

A California audit uncovers alarming dysfunction in Cal/OSHA, revealing a staggering 32% vacancy rate that jeopardizes workplace safety. Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has slashed 63 worker protection regulations, favoring corporate interests over the well-being of employees. This troubling trend threatens to escalate preventable injuries and fatalities nationwide.

1 / 3