EPI Says Trump Actions Exacerbate Capacity, Enforcement Constraints

• A report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) contends that actions by the Trump administration have significantly exacerbated OSHA’s existing capacity and enforcement constraints.
• OSHA has long been understaffed and underfunded, the report states.
• While federal and state OSHAs collectively employ fewer than 2,000 inspectors, they cover 161 million workers.
• The report states that it would take the agencies 185 years to inspect every U.S. workplace just once.
• When state plans are not “at least as effective” as federal OSHA, EPI recommends documenting failures of the state OSHA to protect workers and hold employers accountable, along sharing Complaint About State Program Administration (CASPA) findings directly with policymaker, labor, and community allies.
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Maine Nurses Raise Safety Concerns Behind Staffing Shortages

• Maine’s nursing union says workplace violence is contributing to a shortage of nurses and raising patient safety concerns.
• Nurses at Maine Medical Center in Portland alone say more than 250 nurses have been seriously injured in incidents of workplace violence, forcing them to take time off work.
• Nurses at Maine’s two largest hospitals say they’ve experienced an increase in patients attacking them verbally and physically.
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DOT Looks to Add Fentanyl to Drug Tests

• The Department of Transportation has proposed adding fentanyl and norfentanyl to the DOT drug testing panel and making certain other technical amendments to its drug testing program.
• The agency explained that it is adding fentanyl to its drug testing panels for safety reasons.
• DOT-regulated employers will need to revise their drug and alcohol testing policies to be consistent with the new rule once it takes effect, likely early in 2026.
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Ontario Nurses Launch “Code Black and Blue” Workforce Violence Campaign

• The Ontario Nurses’ Association has launched a campaign calling attention to what it calls a “bruised and battered workforce.”
• The campaign, titled “Code Black and Blue,” features real front-line nurses sharing their experiences with workplace violence in ads across transit shelters, social media, television, and print newspapers throughout the province.
• According to the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, six in 10 nurses reported experiencing violence over a 12-month period.
• A recent survey revealed that 37% of respondents are not receiving workplace violence and harassment training, while 40% are not receiving health and safety orientation.
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Hunton Firm Webinar to Cover Expectations for OSHA Rulemaking

• Richmond, Virginia-based law firm, Hunton, will will provide an update on the status of OSHA under the Trump administration in a webinar at 1 pm ET tomorrow.
• The discussion will include the status of current rulemaking, DOGE’s impact on OSHA operations, enforcement trends, and state plan developments.
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