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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 11/18/2003 - New Data Show Record-Breaking Results From Strong Enforcement, Compliance Assistance |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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National News Release USDL-03-750 Date: Nov. 18, 2003 Contact: Ed Frank Phone: (202) 693-4676 New Data Show Record-Breaking Results From Strong Enforcement, Compliance Assistance
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today released the Department of Labor's annual enforcement statistics, showing that the Department's innovative and effective approach to protecting workers is yielding record-breaking results. Chao noted that American workers are safer and are receiving more back wages -- including overtime pay -- than in the past. Chao emphasized that the department was able to better protect workers by targeting enforcement at bad actors and providing tools to employers that help them better comply with the law. Total back wages including overtime that were collected by the Department's Wage and Hour division for workers in FY 2003 increased by 21 percent over the previous year, representing an 11-year high. The number of workers receiving back wages jumped from 263,593 workers to 342,358 - a nearly 30 percent increase in one year. Chao also said workers are safer at their work sites, thanks to the strong enforcement and compliance assistance activities of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). In the last few years, OSHA and MSHA have placed increased enforcement priority on repeat offenders and invested in compliance assistance tools, programs and partnerships that enable well-intentioned employers to better protect workers. Chao said the numbers show the clear positive results of the Department's new approach:
* Nearly 60,000 of those violations were considered serious, an 11 percent increase over FY 02; * The most recent data available show the rates of workplace injuries and fatalities fell to the lowest point ever in 2002; * Fatalities in all mines decreased by 14 percent in FY 03; * Total mining injuries fell by 15 percent in FY 03. The data released today also show that workers' benefits, such as pension plans, 401(k)'s and health insurance, are more secure. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) reported that it had record monetary results of more than $1.4 billion in civil and criminal cases, and participant benefit recoveries in FY 03 saw a nearly 60 percent increase over the previous year. In addition, EBSA's Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP), which encourages self-correction of benefit violations, saw a 300 percent increase in applications in FY 03 and more than $8 million in restored assets to employee plans ### U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202) 693-7755. |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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