February 21, 2025
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Health and Safety Agency deleted the “diversity” document, but they weren’t about DEI
OSHA webpages removed to include the term “diversity” had no relation to gender or racial diversity
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor Bureau divisions in Washington, DC
ClimateWire | Many safety documents, including the term “diversity,” have been removed from the Ministry of Labor’s website. But they were not the kind of racial and gender diversity programmes that government efficiency was targeting.
Instead, they dealt with the diverse sizes and shapes of firefighters. This is a detail that will help you to properly fit safety devices such as ventilator masks. Another deleted document refers to the diverse set of situations that the original responder may be working on.
Their removal is urged by President Donald Trump’s executive order to end federal diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives, and the White House’s mischief will halt the promotion of “gender ideology.” was encouraged.
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The Trump administration is looking for these terms in programs, grants and documents to trigger fundraising freezes aimed at countering discrimination based on people’s race, gender and disability.
As a result, the majority of government web pages were filmed offline. This includes a 2015 guide from the Occupational Safety and Health Department, the Department of Labor’s division on toilet access for transgender workers. The deleted documents cited OSHA sanitation standards and requested employers to provide toilet facilities to workers.
Accessed from the Internet Archivea 2015 guide states that OSHA has long interpreted it as “a means that employers may not impose unreasonable restrictions on employee use of toilet facilities,” and also “bathrooms.” “The limitations allow employees to avoid using the toilet entirely while working, which could potentially lead to serious physical injuries and illnesses.”
Other documents that have been deleted include guidance for first responders in treating and transporting victims of chemical releases, as well as small business guidance on personal protective equipment such as respiratory systems. It will be available.
OSHA did not respond to requests for comment. However, emails obtained on the website Popularity information The OSHA spokesperson will announce to agent staff that the publication will be removed from the website and will not be distributed from OSHA warehouses. The February 7 email stated, “If you have a wallet card that contains language or can interpret it, please also dispose of Deia and gender ideology.”
Purge attracted the attention of lawmakers. House of the Education and Workforce Committee I wrote a letter Last week, to Labor Secretary Vince Micone to raise concerns.
“If erasing these documents is related to President Trump’s executive orders on so-called “gender ideology” and “diversity, fairness and inclusion,” the DOL has a list of prohibited words. It appears to implement instructions like “The context in which words are used,” they wrote.
Removed guidance on treatment of victims of chemicals describes first responders as “diverse groups” and not race or ethnicity, but “EMS responders, such as full-time, part-time, volunteers, and more. It refers to the various conditions that function. “Their risks vary depending on their primary and secondary roles,” the guidance said. Accessed only through the Internet archive.
Other deleted documents provided guidance on adapting appropriate respiratory tracts for medical professionals. It mentions gender just by noting that the protocol for testing masks has “built-in features” [adapt for] Unique work rates, masks, and gender situations that may be applied to a particular workplace. ”
The document is one of several that were reposted this week on OSHA’s website after House Democrats raised concerns.
However, other documents, including those relating to first responders and workplace violence in healthcare settings, remained offline Thursday afternoon.
Reprinted from E&E News With permission from Politico, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news to energy and environmental experts.
