Harrisburg, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) announced today that it’s leading a multi-state coalition in opposing a proposed federal rule that would sharply limit the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) ability to hold employers accountable for known hazards in inherently risky professions.
Co-authored with the Illinois Attorney General, the coalition urges OSHA to withdraw its proposal, which seeks to reinterpret the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act) to restrict enforcement for hazards considered inherent to certain professional activities - such as live performance, animal training, motorsports, and extreme sports - leaving many workers in these industries without critical federal safety protections.
Many states rely on the federal government to enforce workplace safety standards for private-sector workers across the Commonwealth. If finalized, this rule would narrow OSHA’s authority to cite employers for recognized hazards, leaving Pennsylvania workers less protected and increasing the burden on the Commonwealth and other states to ensure safe workplaces.
“Every worker deserves a safe workplace – no exceptions,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “This federal proposal would weaken a core protection that has stood for more than 50 years, putting workers at greater risk of serious injury or death. The Shapiro Administration is committed to defending the right of every Pennsylvanian to go home safe at the end of the day, no matter where they work or what kind of work they do.”
Additional states joining Pennsylvania and Illinois in the coalition include Arizona, California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Vermont.
The coalition argues that OSHA’s proposed rule goes against the plain language and congressional intent of the OSH Act and fails to provide a reasonable explanation for moving away from decades of established policy. The coalition also warns the proposal could create confusion for employers and regulators, lead to inconsistent enforcement among states, and erode basic health and safety standards across multiple industries.
Pennsylvania’s leadership in organizing the coalition underscores the Shapiro Administration’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding workers and ensuring strong enforcement of both federal and state labor laws. In September, L&I led a multi-state coalition of 23 additional state labor departments and attorneys general in filing a formal comment opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) proposed rollback of federal wage-and-hour protections for millions of home care workers across the country who provide essential home care services to seniors and individuals with disabilities.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, please visit the website or follow L&I on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
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