November 25, 2020

U.S. Department of Labor Announces OSHA's Return
To Normal Enforcement Operations After Hurricane Zeta

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today the resumption of normal enforcement operations in Mississippi's Hancock and Harrison counties following Hurricane Zeta.

In response to the storm, OSHA suspended programmed-planned enforcement inspections temporarily and deployed safety and health professionals to provide compliance assistance and help identify and eliminate serious hazards in recovery operations. OSHA worked with federal partners in these efforts and the agency's on-site interventions removed 107 workers from serious hazards.

As these areas continue to recover from the hurricane, OSHA encourages employers and workers to be vigilant in identifying and eliminating hazards associated with this work. Visit OSHA's webpage on hurricane preparedness and response, or call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) for information.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to help ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

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Media Contact:

Eric R. Lucero, 678-237-0630, lucero.eric.r@dol.gov

Release Number:  20-2170-ATL (504)

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department's Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).