Cracked work helmet on the floor covered with pebble stones. Concept of work accident.
FARGO – The largest federation of labor unions in the U.S. is out with its latest report on the state of safety and health protections for American workers. North Dakota is near the top for higher fatality rates among workers. The AFL-CIO’s annual report ranks North Dakota second in the nation for the highest worker death rate.
The union’s North Dakota President Landis Larson feels the state isn’t seeing much improvement compared to past reports. The authors say the Biden administration has stepped up safety enforcement, but Occupational Safety and Health Administration resources remain low. Larson says that’s felt locally. He says North Dakota does not have its own state OSHA program, so they rely on the federal government and there are only seven inspectors in the state.
In addition to boosting federal resources, Larson would like to see North Dakota overhaul policy that would pave the way for more legal action against employers that don’t prioritize safety.
The state’s labor commissioner says worker deaths are lower than a decade ago, and his team is committed to working with partner agencies to safeguard workers.
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