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In response to high oilfield fatalty rates, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has introduced a new plan aimed at promoting safety on oil fields. The only hitch? It's voluntary.
From CBS7 in Midland, Texas:
In 2012, there were 40 oil-field fatalities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana alone, which is considered Region 6. That’s an increase of 7 deaths from 2011.
OSHA wants to change that with a new Stand-Down plan. Employers can voluntarily choose to take time out of their workday to stop work and educate employees and managers on-site. But it's voluntary, with no mandate to participate.
The "Stand Down" program, which runs through February 28, was launched in partnership with STEPS, a volunteer safety organization founded by OSHA and the oil and gas industry.
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Mike Elk wrote for In These Times and its labor blog, Working In These Times, from 2010 to 2014. He is currently a labor reporter at Politico.
