OSHA Closure: Impact on Workplace and Consumer Safety
A federal shutdown has significant consequences for workplace safety and public health, affecting various industries, including alcohol and cannabis.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suspends nonessential functions, such as guidance, education, and most inspections, during a government funding lapse.
- Everyday jobs and healthcare facilities are impacted.
- The marijuana industry, already fragile, feels the effects, impacting thousands of small businesses and millions of consumers.
A federal shutdown doesn’t just pause bureaucracy—it can have real consequences for workplace safety and public health.
Critical operations, including investigating imminent dangers, workplace fatalities, and serious violations, continue, but many routine safety checks slow or stop entirely.
Author's summary: OSHA closure affects workplace safety and public health.