OSHA Beefs Up Criminal Enforcement Capabilities

Anyone who alters the scene of an OSHA safety investigation or misleads federal inspectors could spend up to 20 years in prison, according to William Sellers IV, a prosecutor at the Department of Justice who has led the U.S. criminal enforcement effort of OSHA rules for many years.

Sellers and Howard Radzely, the solicitor of labor at the Department of Labor, outlined a number of new initiatives to enhance criminal enforcement of OSHA rules at the American Bar Association's Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee midwinter meeting, held in Key West Fla., on March 1-4.

"Bad actors will pay, and pay dearly," promised Radzely, who has overall responsibility for Department of Labor civil enforcement actions; OSHA cases must be referred to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.

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