Scott Mugno’s nomination to head OSHA gets re-approval from Senate HELP Committee

Washington — Scott Mugno, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead OSHA, received a second approval from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Jan. 18, and now awaits confirmation from the full Senate.

Re-approval was necessary because the Senate did not confirm the FedEx executive’s appointment as assistant secretary of labor before its session ended in December. That legislative body – now composed of 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the latter party – convened its latest session Jan. 3.

The HELP Committee’s originally scheduled vote on Mugno’s nomination was postponed on Jan. 11 for undisclosed reasons. Mugno initially won approval from the committee on Dec. 13, a vote that reportedly was along party lines.

He appeared before the HELP Committee on Dec. 5 with three other nominees and emphasized teamwork during a two-and-half-hour session.

“If confirmed, I will work very hard every day side by side with the best safety professionals at America’s ultimate safety department,” Mugno said in his opening statement. “The discussions or debates on how to reach that goal (of safety) can, at times, lead some to believe one side or another doesn’t believe in the goal. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Mugno is the vice president of safety, sustainability and vehicle maintenance at FedEx Ground, where he has worked since August 1994, joining the company as a senior attorney. From February 2000 to December 2011, he was managing director of corporate safety, health and fire prevention until his promotion to vice president.

Mugno also served as OSHA subcommittee chairman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a noted regulatory opponent.

If confirmed as OSHA administrator, Mugno would take over from Loren Sweatt, who has served as acting assistant secretary of labor since July 24. Sweatt is OSHA’s deputy assistant secretary of labor.