John Henshaw was confirmed by the Senate Friday as the new assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.
Henshaw is the former director of environment, safety and health for Astaris LLC of St. Louis, Mo., which makes phosphorous chemicals, phosphoric acid and phosphatesalt.
"American workers win with John Henshaw," said Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. "John is the perfect person to lead an effort to create the safest and healthiest environment for American workers."
Henshaw won praise in equal measure from Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last week during his confirmation hearing.
When asked during the hearing what his priorities were for OSHA, Henshaw replied, "As I see it, my mission is to improve the credibility and effectiveness of OSHA."
Union officials and industry associations have praised Henshaw''s health and safety experience and supported his nomination.
Henshaw is a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Society of Safety Engineers and was president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association from 1990 to 1991. He graduated from Appalachian State University and received his M.P.H. from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 1974.
by Virginia Foran