Work Until You Die: The GOP’s Plan to Sacrifice Workers for Profit

OSHA has saved lives for 50 years—why does Andy Biggs want to take us back to the days of workplace death traps?

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wants to take America back to a time when workers died in factory fires, suffocated in mines, and lost limbs on the assembly line—all in the name of “small government.” His recently introduced Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act (NOSHA Act) would abolish OSHA, the federal agency responsible for enforcing workplace safety laws since 1971.

This isn’t just another partisan stunt. This is a declaration of war on American workers.

OSHA: A Hard-Fought Victory for Labor

Before OSHA, workplace injuries and deaths were routine, accepted, and ignored. In 1970, the year before OSHA was created, 14,000 workers died on the job—an average of 38 deaths per day. Millions more suffered life-altering injuries, and there was little recourse for workers when employers cut safety measures to boost profits.

The labor movement fought for decades to change that. Unions were the driving force behind OSHA’s creation, exposing unsafe workplaces and demanding federal action. When President Richard Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970, it was one of the biggest wins for working-class Americans in U.S. history.

Since then, OSHA has cut workplace fatalities by 63% and injuries by 40%, saving countless lives. Dismantling it would be catastrophic.

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Who Wins? Who Loses?

If OSHA is abolished, corporations win. Workers lose.

🏆 The Winners:

• Big Business & Corporate Donors—The same industries that have fought OSHA for decades—construction, manufacturing, and fossil fuels—stand to gain billions by rolling back safety requirements.

• Negligent Employers – No OSHA means no more random safety inspections, fewer lawsuits, and lower penalties for violating workplace safety rules.

💀 The Losers:

• Workers in Dangerous Jobs – Construction workers, miners, factory employees, healthcare workers, warehouse staff, and delivery drivers will face higher injury and death rates.

• Small Businesses That Play Fair – OSHA ensures everyone follows the same safety rules. Without it, big companies can slash safety costs while responsible businesses struggle to compete.

• Families & Taxpayers – Workplace deaths and injuries mean skyrocketing healthcare costs, workers’ comp payouts, and economic devastation for families.

This isn’t about freedom—it’s about giving corporations a free pass to endanger lives.

The Backlash: Unions, States, and the Public Fight Back

The response to Biggs’ proposal has been swift and furious:

• 💪 Labor Unions: The AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers (UAW), and United Steelworkers (USW) have condemned the bill as an attack on workers’ rights and safety. They are mobilizing members to fight back.

• 🌎 State Agencies: States with workplace safety programs warn that they can’t replace federal oversight, leaving workers vulnerable to lax enforcement.

• 📢 Public Outrage: Social media has exploded with criticism, with many calling this one of the most reckless proposals in modern politics.

• 📰 The Press: Mainstream media outlets are highlighting OSHA’s success and exposing the dangers of its potential repeal.

Why Is Biggs Doing This?

Biggs claims OSHA is an example of “big government overreach” and argues that states should regulate workplace safety. But let’s be clear: this isn’t about states’ rights. It’s about profits over people.

Biggs’ real motivation is political theater and corporate loyalty:

• 🔴 MAGA Grandstanding – Biggs, a far-right House Freedom Caucus member, thrives on anti-government, libertarian rhetoric. This is a publicity stunt to energize the far-right base.

• 💰 Corporate Donor Influence – Biggs and his allies receive massive donations from industries that despise OSHA. Killing workplace protections means more money in their donors’ pockets.

• 🎭 Political Games – The bill is unlikely to pass, but Biggs gets to “own the libs” and reinforce his anti-regulation persona.

The Bottom Line: This Bill Must Be Crushed

If Biggs and his allies succeed, American workers will pay the price with their lives. OSHA exists because history taught us a brutal lesson: when corporations police themselves, workers suffer and die.

Abolishing OSHA isn’t a policy change—it’s a betrayal of every American who wakes up each day and puts their body on the line to earn a paycheck. The labor movement fought too hard for these protections to let one extremist congressman tear them down.

This fight is just beginning. And workers, unions, and the American people won’t back down.

Bibliography:

• Biggs, Andy. "Congressman Biggs Introduces Bill to Abolish OSHA." Press Release, November 2, 2021. https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-bill-abolish-osha

• U.S. Congress. "H.R.86 - NOSHA Act 119th Congress (2025-2026)." Congress.gov, January 3, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/86

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "The Job Safety Law of 1970: Its Passage Was Perilous." U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/history/osha

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "OSHA's 30th Anniversary." OSHA.gov. https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha/30-years

• For Construction Pros. "Worker Safety: Arizona Congressman Set To Abolish OSHA." ForConstructionPros.com, February 3, 2025. https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/construction-safety/article/22932282/arizona-congressman-sponsors-bill-to-abolish-osha

• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Arizona Chapter. "Chapter News: US Congress House Bill 86." ASSP Arizona Chapter, January 3, 2025. https://az.assp.org/news/

• Wikipedia Contributors. "Occupational Safety and Health Administration." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_Safety_and_Health_Administration

• Wikipedia Contributors. "Occupational Safety and Health Act (United States)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_Safety_and_Health_Act_(United_States)

• Wikipedia Contributors. "Tony Mazzocchi." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mazzocchi

• Mendeloff, John. "A Short History of Occupational Safety and Health in the United States." National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), April 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144431/

• Howard, John. "The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Impact on Workplace Safety and Health." National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), April 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144427/

• NRTC Automation. "The History of OSHA." NRTC Automation, April 2019. https://www.nrtcautomation.com/blog/the-history-of-osha

• Dax F. Garza, P.C. "A Brief History of OSHA." Dax F. Garza, P.C., September 12, 2024. https://www.daxgarzalaw.com/blog/workplace-accidents/history-of-osha/