Fatal Flaws: How Kentucky Is Failing Its Workers Archives - Kentucky Center for Investigative ReportingKentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

Fatal Flaws

Beshear Reinstates Worker Safety Board Bevin Dissolved

By Eleanor Klibanoff | January 10, 2020

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Friday that he has reinstated the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, which former Gov. Matt Bevin abolished in July 2018. “This is just one step that we are going to take to make sure that when our Kentuckians leave their family in the morning and head to work, it’s in the safest environment possible and that they know that they’ve got a state government that is looking out for their safety,” Beshear told KyCIR. The OSH Standards Board is responsible for adopting, modifying or suspending the state’s worker safety regulations. As a state-run OSHA plan, Kentucky’s worker safety regulations must be “as effective as” the federal standards. The board is chaired by Labor Secretary Larry Roberts.

Fatal Flaws

New Federal Audit Optimistic About Changes At Kentucky OSHA

By Eleanor Klibanoff | July 18, 2019

The new audit determined that Kentucky has either resolved or made progress toward addressing all of the findings from the previous year, but improvements are still underway in fatality investigations.

Fatal Flaws

Ky. Worker Safety Leaders Promise Grieving Families They’ll Do Better

By Eleanor Klibanoff | May 16, 2019

Mike and Pam Oakley have been talking for years about how Kentucky’s worker safety agency failed their 17-year-old son. State officials never listened. They’re listening now.

Fatal Flaws

Ky. Worker Safety Commissioner Acknowledges Failures, Promises Culture Change

By Eleanor Klibanoff | April 17, 2019

The commissioner acknowledged that agency culture, a lack of accountability and staffing shortages had often led to shortcomings when investigating deaths on the job.

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With Permanent Leadership And No Legislation, Ky. Labor Cabinet Merger Unlikely

By Eleanor Klibanoff | February 21, 2019

The merger proposal was presented as one possible antidote to the Labor Cabinet’s recent troubles.

Fatal Flaws

Kentucky Democrats Seek To Restore Worker Safety Board Bevin Eliminated

By Eleanor Klibanoff | February 14, 2019

House Bill 322 would restore the OSHA Standards Board and require it to meet more frequently.

David Dickerson

Amid Worker Safety Scrutiny, Kentucky Labor Secretary Proposes Merging Cabinets

By Eleanor Klibanoff | February 5, 2019

Cabinet leaders said eliminating the Labor Cabinet would save money, streamline government and improve the functions of Kentucky’s Occupational Safety and Health agency, which has been under federal scrutiny since a critical audit released in August.

Fatal Flaws

KY OSH Promises To ‘Raise The Bar’ With Training, Pay Raises

By Eleanor Klibanoff | February 1, 2019

The Labor Cabinet has purchased equipment and raised salaries in its embattled worker safety program. The Cabinet hasn’t specified how much the raises would be.

Fatal Flaws

State Leaders Speak Out On ‘Fatal Flaws’ Investigation

By Eleanor Klibanoff | November 21, 2018

Gov. Matt Bevin ignored a series of questions from a reporter about worker safety and spoke instead about a tech company’s new location.

Fatal Flaws

Fatal Flaws: In Kentucky, Deregulation And Worker Safety Collide

By Eleanor Klibanoff | November 15, 2018

Business owner and political candidate Matt Bevin expressed disdain for OSHA regulations. Then, he became governor of Kentucky.