President Obama's OSHA Head Nomination Moves Ahead in Senate (11/20/09)

President Barack Obama's nominee for the head of OSHA, David Michaels, has been approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The committee, chaired by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, urged swift approval of Michaels to serve as head of the government's workplace safety agency. Michaels is a nationally recognized authority on worker health and safety and a professor at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. If he is confirmed, Michaels will also become an assistant secretary in the Labor Department.

Michaels worked previously with the Clinton administration, where he served as an assistant secretary for the Department of Energy. At the Department of Energy, he worked to protect the health and safety of workers at U.S. nuclear weapons facilities.

 "David Michaels has a long history and commitment to workers' health and safety," said RWDSU Health and Safety Director Steve Mooser. "His appointment signals a welcome change of priorities and direction at OSHA, and we are happy to see that his nomination is moving ahead in the Senate."
Michaels' nomination still must be approved by the full Senate.