David Michaels

Who is David Michaels?

David Michaels is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Nominated by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Michaels began serving in the post in December 2009 as OSHA’s 12th Assistant Secretary. In October, 2013, he became the longest serving since the agency began operations in 1971.

As Assistant Secretary, Michaels has worked to strengthen the agency's enforcement in high risk industries, improve OSHA's whistleblower protection program, promote common sense worker protection programs and standards, expand compliance assistance provided to small employers, and increase outreach to the vulnerable populations who are at greatest risk for work-related injury and illness. He has also increased OSHA's focus and capabilities in the areas of data analysis and program evaluation.

Michaels is an epidemiologist and Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.