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On the morning of March 20, Mathew Roberts was working at a chemical plant on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, when he was concerned in an accident with a forklift.

Unresponsive and in essential situation, the daddy of two and Iraq Conflict veteran recognized for his huge chuckle and heat smile was taken from the Nutrien nitrogen plant to an area hospital, the place he died of his accidents.

The U.S. Occupational Security and Well being Administration is investigating the incident, together with native regulation enforcement, however Roberts’ relations mentioned they’re nonetheless ready for solutions.

The office demise just isn’t uncommon in Louisiana, which has been ranked the sixth most harmful state for staff within the U.S., in keeping with a research that used knowledge from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Greater than 200 chemical crops and refineries sit alongside an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, which has been dubbed “Most cancers Alley” due to the excessive charges of most cancers linked to petrochemicals.

In recent times, there have been a number of chemical plant exposures or explosions within the state. In December, a potential explosion occurred at a Westlake Corp. chemical plant not removed from the Nutrien plant. In October, 4 staff have been despatched to the hospital after being uncovered to ammonia at a Formosa Plastics plant. In September, a hydrogen gasoline explosion on the close by Chevron Renewable Power Group plant injured two individuals.

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A number of weeks earlier than Roberts’ accident, Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity introduced that it’ll shut 11 OSHA area workplaces, together with the one in Baton Rouge that’s investigating Roberts’ demise. It’s the company’s solely workplace in Louisiana, and its potential closure is elevating issues amongst office security specialists. The closures stay “underneath evaluation,” per the U.S. Division of Labor, which oversees OSHA.

A Division of Labor spokesperson instructed Capital & Predominant, “Occupational Security and Well being Administration inspectors proceed to conduct legally required inspections and stay centered on OSHA’s core mission to forestall damage, sickness, and demise within the office and promote protected and wholesome workplaces for U.S. staff.”

A spokesperson for DOGE didn’t reply to Capital & Predominant’s request for remark.

Former OSHA Director David Michaels mentioned by closing the workplace, “these monumental oil and petrochemical amenities with vital security and well being hazards will likely be inspected even much less regularly than they’re now.” By closing the workplace, the federal government will save $109,346, in keeping with DOGE.

OSHA staffers within the workplace must select between leaving OSHA completely or relocating to a different area lots of of miles away, Michaels mentioned. Staffers on the Baton Rouge workplace mentioned they’re not conscious of any layoffs, although rumors have been swirling for the reason that DOGE announcement in mid-March.

“We’re nonetheless right here, however I don’t know for the way lengthy,” mentioned one staffer who requested to not be recognized out of concern it might put their job in jeopardy.

Along with the Baton Rouge workplace, which performed 386 office inspections over the past 12 months and assessed greater than $750,000 in penalties for critical violations, DOGE can also be planning to shut area workplaces in Houston and Cellular, Alabama. “These closures will lead to extra accidents, diseases and deaths,” Michaels mentioned.

Musk’s effectivity mandate will find yourself affecting staff, mentioned Bernard Fontaine Jr., a former OSHA compliance officer.

“What they’re making an attempt to do is consolidate workplaces and cut back prices,” Fontaine mentioned “However the affect of the companies being supplied goes to be dramatically decreased in order that when individuals name and file a grievance, it is probably not addressed for a really lengthy time frame. By then, somebody might be very sick.”