Building safety: The role of construction unions in the enforcement of OSHA

Because unionized workers are more likely to exercise their rights under OSHA, it is hypothesized that OSHA is more stringently enforced at unionized construction workplaces than at comparable nonunion workplaces. A comparison of OSHA enforcement in union and nonunion construction sites demonstrates that union sites face higher probabilities of inspection and receive greater scrutiny during inspections than do comparable nonunion sites. Further, union employers are required to correct violations of safety and health standards more quickly and bear higher overall penalty costs than their nonunion counterparts. As a result, the construction industry operates under a “two-tiered” safety and health regulatory system.