Biden appoints deputy head of OSHA

President Joe Biden on Wednesday appointed Jim Frederick, a former health and safety expert in the steel industry, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Commission.

Mr. Frederick, who had been endorsed by the National Safety Council, American Society of Safety Professionals and the American Industrial Hygiene Association as a candidate to lead OSHA, has already been added to OSHA’s website as its No. 2. He spent 25 years helping to lead health and safety at United Steelworkers and is expected to help guide the development of a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard, experts say.

He most recently served as senior consultant of ORCHSE Strategies LLC, which was acquired by the National Safety Council in November.

Although President Biden has nominated Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to lead the U.S. Department of Labor, no one has been nominated for the assistant secretary of OSHA post yet.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.