Shutdown ends; OSHA resumes operations

Washington – After 16 days, the federal government shutdown that ceased the majority of OSHA operations concluded with the passage of a bill to fund the government.

President Barack Obama signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 on Oct. 17. The law funds government agencies through Jan. 15, 2014, at fiscal year 2013 levels.

These levels include reductions made by the sequester earlier this year. For OSHA, this means an operating budget of $535.3 million.

About 90 percent of OSHA’s staff has returned to work. During the shutdown, OSHA only responded to fatalities, catastrophes and employee complaints of imminent, deadly danger.