LEGISLATION BY SHORTHAND—Critics say Rep. Andy Biggs has mastered the art of saying almost nothing while proposing maximum damage. His 18-word bill to abolish OSHA has zero justification—it is just a reckless gamble with worker safety, leaving states under no obligation to protect employees. Biggs is a man of few words in the 590 bills he authored last session, none of which have been enacted. The average number of bills introduced by representatives is 19.
Editor’s Note: Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs’ bill to abolish OSHA is a masterclass in legislative minimalism—so brief it could fit on the side of a thimble. While unlikely to pass, it has ironically backfired by highlighting just how essential a federal OSHA is, sparking renewed discussions on the importance of workplace safety regulations.
Republican Arizona Congressman Rep. Andy Biggs reintroduced the Nullify OSHA Act (NOSHA) legislation last week to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Biggs argues that workplace safety regulations should be left to individual states rather than the federal government.
While this proposal aligns with his long-standing efforts to reduce federal oversight and is in line with his support for DOGE as it sweeps through 14 federal agencies, it raises serious concerns about the future of worker protections, particularly in high-risk industries like wireless infrastructure construction, if OSHA were scrapped.
Fall protection is one of the most essential safety measures for cell tower construction workers. In all industries, falls are among the leading causes of workplace fatalities, and OSHA has been instrumental in setting and enforcing standards that have significantly reduced these incidents. Wireless infrastructure contractors adhere to some of the most rigorous fall protection programs, meeting and often exceeding OSHA requirements.
If OSHA were abolished, workplace safety would fall under the jurisdiction of state regulations. While 22 states operate their own OSHA-approved state safety programs, these must be “at least as effective as” federal standards. Without OSHA oversight, states could implement inconsistent, weaker safety rules, creating confusion and potential safety risks for contractors’ employees across multiple states, according to safety professionals who discussed with Wireless Estimator the move to terminate OSHA.
Federal OSHA also offers outreach programs that state agencies do not, such as the NATE-OSHA-FCC Partnership for wireless infrastructure contractors. This initiative allows participants to collaborate with OSHA, the FCC, and industry peers to address critical workplace hazards, develop effective safety management systems, share resources, and implement strategies to reduce injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
NATE: The Wireless Infrastructure Contractors Association declined to comment on Biggs’ bill. It’s not surprising—NATE, OSHA, and others probably see no point in acknowledging a measure going nowhere, especially given Biggs’ impressive streak of legislative dead-ends.
The third time’s the charm—or just striking out?
Biggs has introduced the same bill for the third time without a co-sponsor. In the last session, he gained one supporter, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and peaked during the 117th Congress (2021-2022) with nine co-sponsors. But with such limited backing, the bill never had a chance of advancing to a hearing, let alone a vote on the House floor.
On average, representatives introduce 19 bills per session, according to the Library of Congress, with only about 2% of the 10,000-plus bills becoming law. Biggs, however, is an outlier. In the 118th Congress (2023-2024), he introduced a staggering 590 bills—far more than any other member of Congress.
As of this month, he has not had any of the bills he sponsored enacted into law.
Arizona’s troubled history with fall protection regulations
Arizona, Biggs’ home state, provides a telling example of what can happen when states set their safety regulations without federal oversight. In 2012, Arizona passed a law that required fall protection for residential construction workers only at heights of 15 feet or higher—conflicting with federal OSHA’s requirement of 6 feet.
OSHA determined that Arizona’s law was not “at least as effective as” federal standards, which jeopardized the state’s OSHA approval. After a prolonged dispute, Arizona was forced to revert to federal fall protection standards to maintain compliance.
This case highlights a significant concern: if OSHA is abolished, states could implement their ever-changing safety standards, potentially reducing protections and increasing hazards. Without a consistent national baseline, workers may be exposed to more significant risks, and enforcement could vary widely depending on state priorities and budgets.
The potential consequences of eliminating OSHA
Beyond fall protection, OSHA’s role in workplace safety has led to measurable improvements across multiple industries. Since its inception in 1970, OSHA has helped reduce workplace fatalities by more than 60% and workplace injuries by over 50%. Eliminating the agency would likely lead to a rollback of these safety gains, putting more workers in danger.
Critics of OSHA, including Biggs, argue that the agency imposes unnecessary burdens on businesses. However, history has shown that protections often weaken when workplace safety is left entirely to private employers or some state governments.
OSHA has played a key role in holding companies accountable for hazardous working conditions. For example, national retailers like Dollar General and Family Dollar were fined millions for dangerous store conditions, forcing them to implement safer policies. Without OSHA, there would be less accountability if just one state addressed the violations of discount stores, and worker safety could become a secondary concern for cost-conscious businesses.
The business perspective: Would employers invest in safety without OSHA?
One of the most significant risks of abolishing OSHA is that some employers might not invest in adequate safety measures. Workplace safety programs require time, training, and financial resources. Some businesses might cut corners to save costs without federal standards, leading to higher accident rates, injuries, and fatalities.
David Michaels, the former assistant secretary for labor at OSHA, warned in an interview with Time Magazine that eliminating the agency could create “a race to the bottom,” with businesses that prioritize worker safety undercut by competitors who disregard it.
The need for national guidelines
While state-run safety programs can be effective, they work best when complemented by federal OSHA regulations. The current system ensures that states meet the initial baseline, preventing a patchwork of inconsistent safety rules. If federal OSHA were eliminated, there would be no guarantee that all states would maintain rigorous safety standards, potentially putting thousands of workers at greater risk.
While Biggs’ push to eliminate OSHA aligns with his broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government, the implications for worker safety—especially in industries like wireless infrastructure construction—are too severe to ignore. The Arizona fall protection dispute serves as a warning of what could happen if states cannot regulate workplace safety independently.
“With workplace fatalities still a significant concern, maintaining a strong, federally enforced OSHA remains essential to ensuring that workers are protected, regardless of where they work,” explained an industry safety director.
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