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Under the Obama administration's proposed budget for FY 2011, OSHA would receive $573 million in funding -- $14 million more than the agency received in FY 2010. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said the 2011 budget builds on last year's budget policy of returning worker protection programs to FY 2001 staffing levels after years of decline under the Bush administration.

"Today's budget affirms this administration's strong commitment to vigorous enforcement," she said. "OSHA received over 100 inspectors in our 2010 budget, as well as an additional 25 requested in 2011. We are also moving 35 inspectors from compliance assistance activities to enforcement."

"With the largest fine in OSHA's history and more egregious cases, we are sending a strong message throughout industry that we will not tolerate the endangerment of workers," she said. "We will continue those efforts with a number of new and innovative enforcement initiatives in the coming year."

Solis noted that OSHA has an aggressive and robust regulatory agenda planned for 2010. In addition to restoring the musculoskeletal disorder category to its recordkeeping requirements, Solis said the agency is scheduled to publish four final rules and four proposed rules, as well as continuing work on numerous guidance products.

OSHA officials also said the agency will conduct special studies of its state plan programs. Based on the results, Solis said the agency will decide how to change its state oversight policies. The Obama administration requested an additional $1.5 million to support OSHA state plans.

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March 22, 2010

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