Jim Frederick
Principal
NEXUS HSE
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (2021-2025)
Improving worker protections by strategically utilizing data to increase efficacy of occupational health and safety management systems
In safety 101 we were taught to prevent injuries and illness by identifying hazards, evaluating them, and instituting the best controls possible. We know this and yet about 14 workers in the United States won’t return home today due to a workplace fatality. While controlling hazards might seem straightforward, the reality is much more complex. Workplace hazards are dynamic and constantly evolving, making workplace safety management a continuous challenge.
What if we could couple a more strategic use of injury data with the operational experience from the workplace into a systems approach to focus controls on the hazards that are most likely to cause injury?
In this presentation, we’ll explore data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to identify recurring hazards causing injuries and fatalities across the United States. Using this information and the insight from workers, we can focus our safety management systems to proactively address these risks and improve health and safety.
Jim Frederick joined the Biden-Harris Administration in January 2021 as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, a role he held until January 2025. At OSHA, Jim supported senior leadership in policy, administration, and operations, ensuring effective execution of safety policies and efficient agency administration. He also engaged with external stakeholders and coordinated with other governmental entities to support OSHA’s mission.
Before OSHA, Jim spent three decades in organized labor as a health and safety representative, primarily with the United Steelworkers Union, where he served as Assistant Director of Health, Safety, and Environment. This role allowed him to collaborate with employers, governments, and workers across North America and globally.
Jim holds an MS in Environmental Health and Safety Management from Rochester Institute of Technology and a BS in Environmental Health from Purdue University. He received the Purdue School of Health Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2022 and the College of Health and Human Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2024.
Throughout his career, Jim has focused on addressing workplace hazards to ensure workers return home safely after each shift.