The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) has announced what it considers to be the “Dirty Dozen” employers for 2024.
The judging criteria include the severity of safety risks to workers as well as repeat and serious violations of safety standards and applicable laws.
“The latest data show an increase in workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses,” said Jessica E. Martinez, MPH, co-executive director of National COSH, in a statement. “An increasing number of children are being assigned to dangerous jobs, and the reality of climate change is bringing the risk of extreme heat to both indoor and outdoor workplaces.”
“We release the Dirty Dozen each year to shine a light on what’s going wrong in U.S. workplaces – and to support workers who are joining together to make it right.”
Before we take a close look at the 12 companies on this year's list, it's important to note – as we do every time we publish this slideshow – that National COSH tends to single out companies who are resistant to unionization efforts. National COSH, after all, is an advocacy group whose aims include establishing and strengthening unions. On this year's list there are active union organization and bargaining efforts at three of the 12 companies on this year's list: Ascension, Black Iron and Waffle House.
This article offers a more detailed explanation of exactly how companies are chosen for, and how they end up on, the Dirty Dozen.
Here are links to previous recipients of the Dirty Dozen designation (this annual designation was put on hold in 2021 due to the pandemic):
The Dirty Dozen Most Dangerous Companies of 2023
The 12 Most Dangerous Companies of 2022
'Dirty Dozen' List Details 12 Most Egregious Employers of 2020
The 12 Most Dangerous Companies of 2019