News publications from across the USA have reported impending closures of occupational health and safety agencies in the county, in wake of the Trump administration's decisions to cut government spending. This could be disastrous for American workers, who may now have little recourse against workplace violations. 

Louisiana workers may be more affected than others. The state is already known as one of the most dangerous places in America, from an occupational health and safety standpoint. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana is ranked the sixth most dangerous state for workers in the U.S. This is thanks to the more than 200 chemical facilities and refineries which line an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to the state's capital New Orleans. It has been repeatedly called "Cancer Alley", due to the high cancer rates associated with petrochemicals.

US-based publication Capital & Main has recorded a few instances. In recent years, the news publication said, there have been several chemical plant exposures or explosions in the state. In December, a suspected explosion occurred at a Westlake Corp. chemical plant near the Nutrien plant. Four workers were hospitalised in October after being exposed to ammonia at a Formosa Plastics plant.

Two individuals were injured in September when a hydrogen gas explosion occurred at the neighbouring Chevron Renewable Energy Group factory. Last month, Mathew Roberts was working at a chemical facility on the outskirts of Baton Rouge when he was involved in a forklift accident. The father of two, who was unresponsive and in severe condition, was transported from the Nutrien nitrogen facility to a local hospital and died of his injuries.

Spending cuts

His death came weeks after the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the closure of 11 OSHA field offices. This includes one in Baton Rouge that is investigating Robert's death. It is the agency's only office in Louisiana, and its impending closure is causing anxiety among workplace safety professionals. The closures are still "under review," according to the US Department of Labor, which oversees OSHA.

In addition to the Baton Rouge office, which conducted 386 workplace inspections last year and imposed over $750,000 in penalties for major infractions, DOGE intends to eliminate field offices in Houston and Mobile, Alabama. 

“Those enormous oil and petrochemical facilities with significant safety and health hazards will be inspected even less frequently than they are now,” former OSHA Director David Michaels told Capital & Main. “These closures will result in more injuries, illnesses and deaths,” Michaels added.

According to Michaels, OSHA employees in the office will have to choose between quitting the agency entirely or relocating to another region hundreds of miles away. Staff at the Baton Rouge office claimed they were not aware of any layoffs, despite rumours that have circulated since the DOGE announcement in mid-March.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal agency tasked with researching and promoting workplace safety, is undergoing a dramatic restructuring that could impact occupational health across industries, including those in the Gulf of America region.

Announced in early 2025, the overhaul has sparked concerns about weakened protections for workers in high-risk sectors like offshore oil and gas, mining, and firefighting.

NIOSH, established under the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act, conducts research and provides recommendations to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

Its work has been critical for industries prevalent in the Gulf region, where offshore platforms face hazards like explosions, toxic exposures, and severe weather.

However, recent reports indicate that NIOSH is facing massive layoffs, with up to 90% of its workforce potentially cut.

This restructuring, driven by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., involves merging NIOSH into a newly formed Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), alongside other agencies like the CDC.

A threat to HSE operations in the region

Critics, including labour unions and public health experts, warn that the layoffs and merger threaten NIOSH’s ability to fulfill its mission.

The agency’s research into workplace hazards, such as silica dust for miners, PFAS chemicals for firefighters, or hydrogen sulfide for oil workers, requires specialised expertise that could be lost.

For Gulf workers, NIOSH’s studies on offshore safety protocols and heat stress are vital, given the region’s hurricane-prone environment and labour-intensive rigs.

The agency’s data-driven recommendations often inform OSHA regulations, which set enforceable standards.

A diminished NIOSH could mean fewer updates to these protections, leaving workers vulnerable.

The restructuring has also raised questions about funding and priorities. While the AHA aims to streamline public health efforts, skeptics argue it may prioritise broader health initiatives over workplace-specific research.

Congressional oversight is expected, with hearings planned to assess the impact on industries reliant on NIOSH’s expertise. For now, the agency’s remaining staff face uncertainty, with morale reportedly low.

In the Gulf, where economic activity hinges on safe operations, the NIOSH cuts could have ripple effects.

Without robust research, employers may struggle to address emerging risks, potentially increasing accidents or exposures.

Stakeholders are urging policymakers to preserve NIOSH’s capacity to protect the nation’s workforce.

Also read: DOGE terminates Louisiana federal agency leases; OSHA affected

Businesses that take workplace safety seriously will have a competitive edge. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Small businesses are adopting a reactive approach to safety, rather than proactively guarding against potential risks, according to Pie Insurance's 2025 State of Workplace Safety Report

The report is based on a comprehensive workplace safety survey of 1,018 small US business owners (up to 500 employees), providing insights on safety concerns, workplace accidents, AI trends and more.

According to the survey, 75% of small businesses experienced workplace injuries in the past year, with nearly half saying they had to improvise safety measures due to a lack of proper equipment. Half of those injuries were reported to be preventable. Preventing such injuries could dramatically reduce injury-related costs such as medical expenses and compensation costs, as well as the costs incurred by operational downtime, with small businesses losing four employee workdays and three full business days to workplace injuries.

The most common preventable workplace injuries were reported to be mental health-related injuries (22%), slips, trips and falls (20%) cuts and lacerations (18%) and overexertion and repetitive strain injuries (13%).

Many of these injuries could be prevented by taking proactive measures such as ensuring employees have the right equipment and PPE; conduct regular engaging safety training, encouraging employees to report safety concerns without fear of reprisal, and performing regular workplace safety audits, the report says.

Growing role of AI

The report highlights the growing role of AI in preventing accidents, with 65% of business leaders thinking it will improve safety in the next five years, and 44% already using it to improve safety and efficiency. From predictive analytics that anticipate risks to AI-driven telematics that monitor driver behaviour and automated safety training, AI is facilitating a more proactive approach to preventing accidents and reducing risks.

Also highlighted is the increased impact of mental health on workplace safety, with stress, burnout and mental-health related injuries accounting for 22% of workplace injuries, while only 52% of firms have mental health related safety protocols in place. A culture where employees feel safe and supported needs to be created, with measures such as providing employee assistance programmes (EAP), offering wellness initiatives and creating an open culture where employees are not afraid to raise mental health challenges.

Employee resistance to safety measures is another challenge cited, with suggested measures being to involve employees in safety discussions and decision making, make training engaging and rewarding employees who follow safety protocols and leading by example, with the leadership walking the walk.

Businesses that take workplace safety seriouslly will have a competitive edge, the report stresses. “By implementing proactive mental health support, investing in the right equipment, leveraging AI and ensuring employees follow safety protocols, small businesses can reduce injuries, lower costs and create a more productive workforce,” it says.

G42's group CEO reported that AI's potential in healthcare is "largely untapped." Image Source: Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic celebrate AI's potential "to continue to advance and fulfill our mission of caring for life, researching for health and educating those who serve" when signing a partnership agreement with G42

The taskforce will strategise the advancement of AI technology in healthcare, evaluate and accelerate potential projects, and co-develop solutions.

Continuing, Mihaljevic vowed, "Cleveland Clinic is committed to finding opportunities that improve patient safety, patient experience, patient outcomes and access."

Solutions developed as a result of the partnership are expected to be implemented not only within the Ohio-headquartered Cleveland Clinic institutes and G42's anchor operations in the Middle East but worldwide.

Peng Xiao, G42's group CEO, noted that, "AI’s potential to transform the healthcare industry remains largely untapped... AI is paving the way for a future where care is not only more precise but also deeply personalized and preventative.

"We look forward to embarking on this journey alongside Cleveland Clinic and other global partners, harnessing AI to unlock new frontiers in medicine, empower clinicians with unprecedented insights, and ultimately, reshape the way humanity experiences health and longevity."

bp believes that every incident is preventable. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

bp is one of the Gulf of America’s largest oil producers, operating five major production platforms in the region. In an article on its website, bp outlines five ways it is working to keep its Gulf of America employees safe:

1. Principles to keep bp’s people safe
Making sure contractors are fully supported to work safely is critical to the company’s goal of eliminating Tier 1 process safety events. bp hosts a quarterly contractor forum – a dedicated space for bp’s contractors and leaders to talk about safety. Under the company’s Safety Leadership Principles, bp employees and contractors are empowered to speak up when something does not seem right and to stop work if they have concerns.

2. Leveraging digital technology for better planning and monitoring
bp’s Argos platform is using a digital twin of the facility that enables individuals to monitor Argos from bp’s US headquarters in Houston. The technology was recently used to remotely plan an inspection campaign of 300 valves on Argos to ensure they are being maintained correctly, eliminating the need for the team to physically travel back and forth to the platform. Using the twin, the time to complete the inspections was reduced by 50%. The technology is in use across all five of bp’s operated Gulf of America platforms and in other regions.

3. Deploying other cutting-edge technology to reduce risk
In addition to the digital twin, bp is using drones to inspect tanks in its Gulf of America platforms, eliminating the need for employees and contractors to enter confined spaces.

4. Weather safety
Temperatures on bp platforms in the Gulf of America can reach between 125 to 130° Fahrenheit. Keeping bp personnel on the platforms cool is critical to their ability to safely make decisions and follow protocols. bp started a pilot project on the Mad Dog platform for all offshore personnel to use specially designed, lightweight, cooling, fire-retardant clothing. Heat stress meters are being used to provide real-time data of the current heat risk on the platform. For hydration, test systems have been installed in bathrooms allowing the team members to self-monitor and regulate hydration. Hurricane preparedness sessions are also held, and weather forecasts distributed to warn of severe weather events.

5. Training bp’s future leaders
Under bp’s health, safety, environment and carbon (HSE&C) early careers program,  recent college graduates are placed in teams with experienced safety professionals and visit platforms in the Gulf of America to learn about the work there. The participants take helicopter training before visiting, do a safety orientation once they arrive and shadow the HSE&C site lead at the facility. Current participants are developing safety resources that focus on specific Process Safety Fundamentals including engaging videos, case studies and discussion prompts for all frontline employees.

“These five aspects reflect bp’s belief that every incident is preventable,” says bp. “Technological improvements, a focus on early training and constant communication, with a continuous drive to learn and improve, go a long way toward reaching that goal. Simply put, everyone must go home safely when their shift is done – full stop.”