Does Downsizing of the Federal Government Impact the Workers’Compensation?

You may not find a correlation between your workers’ compensation and the federal government. However, don’t forget that the workers’ compensation program is a federal program, controlled by the federal government, more specifically, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA for short.

This administration is just one of many which have been slashed by the President in an attempt to reduce the expensive and bulky government, as he puts it. Workers’ compensation attorneys like https://mlklaw.org/ aren’t thrilled by this move. The downsizing has a negative aspect to it, and even if it is not yet felt, it probably will be in a very short time, and here’s why.

There Are Fewer Inspectors Out There

Since this administration took over, 40 inspectors have retired and departed the workforce. Even though 40 doesn’t seem like a huge number, it is a 4% drop in numbers. Seeing how these people leaving the administration were experienced and skilled, the amount of work they can do is significantly bigger than any other person who has replaced them.

However, therein lies the problem. These people have not been replaced. The current president and his cabinet want to shrink the bureaucratic part of the government because they believe in marketplace self-regulation. How true their belief is when it comes to workers’ compensation cannot be said yet, only time will give us enough perspective.

Concrete Examples

Even though the lawmakers may be able to provide the numbers that the reduction has had no effect on the national level, there is concrete evidence that the regional and local levels can be severely impacted by this move. More specifically, the OSHA office for the Southeast, which has formerly been the workplace of the 10 out of the 40 retired inspectors.

What that means for this region is a much more statistically significant percentage of lost staff. In some parts of this region, the inspections have been reduced by a quarter since the departure of the retired inspectors. It doesn’t help that this is the region with the most reported injuries at the workplace.

Is All of the USA Compromised by This Lack of Inspectors?

Some states and territories of the USA have their own version of the OSHA, which means that the impact of this understaffing isn’t going to impact them as much. However, about a half of all the states rely exclusively on the federal administration to manage all of their inspections of both the private and the public sector.

Recently, a national broadcaster reported about how bad the situation is in some parts of the country. A member of the Congress from Connecticut enquired about some statistic data from the regional OSHA office, to which she got a response that the Administration is ‘far too understaffed to fulfill its mandate of reducing workplace injuries’ which is deeply troubling.

What Do the Inspectors Do Anyway?

In short, the OSHA inspectors ensure that the companies and the employers comply with the regulations laid down by the Administration. Their primary job is educating the employers in safety and health related issues which should prevent injuries. However, they can have a punitive function as well, if they find out that the company has not been complying with the rules and regulations.

What Does All This Mean for Me?

If you have a complaint about how your workers’ compensation claim has been treated, an inspector is obligated to investigate and inspect the claim. However, with the lack of staff, you may be forced to wait a lot longer, which can result in a lot of lost time and wages and your medical bills can just keep stacking up. If you’re in a situation like this, you may need to hire a good work comp attorney and have them do the best they can to have your case heard.

Sethu Ram

Hi there! I’m Sethu, your go-to guy for all things tech, travel, internet, movies, and business tips. I love sharing insights and stories that make life more interesting. Let’s explore the world together, one article at a time!