Back around the end of July, President Obama nominated David Michaels, PhD, MPH, a professor at George Washington University, to be the assistant secretary of Labor, heading OSHA. Finally today, after a long delay, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee approved the nomination on a bipartisan vote. Full Senate confirmation is expected before Thanksgiving.
Dr. Michaels has a long history in public health and occupational health and safety. He is an epidemiologist who has overseen worker health and safety in nuclear weapon facilities and has researched the health effects of occupational exposure to toxic chemicals.
Many in the health and safety field have been waiting for this confirmation so that OSHA can move forward.
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