Undefeated Texas Work Injury Lawyers
As Texas once again leads the nation in workplace injuries and fatalities, a troubling new report from the New York Times reveals that federal safety inspections have dropped sharply in 2025 — raising serious concerns about whether the agency tasked with protecting workers has the resources to do its job.
For Texas workers, and especially those in oilfields, refineries, chemical plants, and construction site, this decline could not come at a worse time.
In our experience, even when safety regulations are firmly in place and penalties are steep, companies still choose profits over people. They cut corners. They ignore known hazards. And when a catastrophic accident happens, they move quickly to shift blame instead of accepting responsibility.
That’s where we step in.
At Zehl & Associates, we have fought — and won — against the largest oil and gas, refinery, and industrial corporations in the world. We’ve recovered Billions in record-setting verdicts and settlements for thousands of workers whose lives were shattered by accidents that never should have happened.
Read on to learn what this drop in OSHA inspections means for Texas workers — and how our undefeated Work Injury Lawyers can help protect your rights.
Texas: Epicenter of the Nation’s Workplace Safety Crisis
No state reports more workplace injuries or deaths than Texas. And in 2025, the numbers are again trending in the wrong direction. Although full-year data is not yet available, OSHA severe injury reports through the end of July show a clear increase. So far in 2025, an average of 138 Texas workers per month have been seriously injured in workplace accidents — compared to 123 workers per month in 2024.
That is a sharp and deeply troubling rise.
Texas is home to some of the most dangerous industries in America, including:
- Chemical plants and refineries
- Oilfield operations
- Major construction projects
- Manufacturing facilities
- Commercial trucking corridors
We routinely see entirely preventable tragedies — falls from scaffolding, electrocutions, crushing incidents, explosions, amputations, and catastrophic burn injuries.
Without strong federal oversight and consistent inspections, these numbers will not improve. They will rise.
20% Decline in Federal OSHA Inspections in 2025
U.S. Department of Labor data shows that federal workplace inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) dropped by nearly 5,300 in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 — a 20% decline in enforcement.
Inspections fell from 29,229 in 2024 to just 23,531 during the same period in 2025. The administration has announced a projected maximum of 24,929 inspections this fiscal year — suggesting that reduced oversight will only continue.
But even more alarming: reported “willful violations” declined by 42%. These are the most serious and preventable safety infractions, where employers knowingly fail to comply with safety laws. They often carry penalties exceeding $165,000 per violation.
This drop is not a sign that workplaces are safer. It’s a sign that there are fewer inspectors on the ground.
What’s Behind the Dangerous Decline in OSHA Oversight?
According to reporting from the New York Times, several key factors are contributing to the sharp slowdown in federal workplace safety inspections:
Understaffing: As of June 2025, there were just 736 federal inspectors nationwide — down from 846 in early 2024 — responsible for overseeing approximately 11.6 million worksites across the country. Fewer inspections mean fewer violations uncovered, far less accountability, and, tragically, more preventable injuries.
Shifts in federal oversight priorities: The current administration has made reducing the size of the federal workforce a stated priority. As part of that effort, OSHA offices across the country have faced staffing reductions and operational cuts. When enforcement agencies are scaled back, oversight weakens — and workplace safety enforcement inevitably suffers.
Rolling back rules that protect workers: The Labor Department has also announced plans to scale back certain safety requirements, including eliminating a rule requiring adequate lighting at construction sites and easing personal protective equipment (PPE) mandates for workers regularly exposed to hazardous chemicals. These are not minor technical rules — they are safeguards designed to prevent serious injuries.
Taken together, these changes are steadily eroding the federal government’s ability to protect workers before tragedies occur.
And in a state like Texas — where industrial accidents already happen at alarming rates — reduced oversight is not just concerning. It is dangerous.
Why Fewer Inspections Put Workers at Risk
Research consistently shows that many fatal workplace incidents occur at sites that had not recently been inspected.
OSHA inspections do more than investigate tragedies after they happen. They serve as a deterrent. The possibility of an inspection — and the threat of substantial fines — pushes companies to invest in training, equipment, and safety protocols.
When enforcement weakens, companies often revert to cost-cutting. Maintenance gets delayed. Training is shortened. Protective equipment isn’t replaced. Hazards go uncorrected.
And workers pay the price.
We have seen firsthand how ignored safety violations contribute to refinery explosions, plant fires, oilfield blowouts, scaffold collapses, and deadly truck crashes. These are not “accidents.” In many cases, they are the predictable result of preventable safety failures.
Staying Safe at Work
While no worker can control federal inspection rates, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Report hazards immediately to supervisors in writing whenever possible.
- Refuse unsafe work if conditions present an imminent danger.
- Document everything — take photos of unsafe conditions and keep copies of incident reports.
- Seek medical care right away after any injury, even if it seems minor.
- Consult an experienced work injury attorney before signing any documents or accepting a settlement.
If your employer fails to protect you, you may have legal options beyond workers’ compensation — including third-party claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, or other negligent companies.
Undefeated Texas Work Injury Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult
Having won Billions and recovered the largest verdicts and settlements in history for injured workers and their families, our Houston Work Injury Lawyers have the resources and experience to stand up against the largest companies in the world and ensure that injured workers receive the best medical care and maximum compensation possible for their injuries and losses. Our recent wins for Texas workers include:
- #1 largest workplace burn injury settlement in Texas
- #1 largest workplace electrocution settlement in Texas
- #1 largest maritime accident settlement in Texas
- $100 million settlement for workers injured in a workplace explosion
If you or a loved one were seriously injured, burned, or tragically killed in a work-related accident, contact our Undefeated Work Injury Lawyers at 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email via our Contact Us page.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights, and provide you with all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours