US Department of Labor improves enforcement databases

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced enhancements to its online enforcement database designed to improve public access to and understanding of the department's enforcement actions. The updated website includes a number of new features, including map displays of inspection and violation data from the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and its Mine Safety and Health Administration, as well as the ability to view individual inspection records and the enforcement history of a particular company or mine.

"These improvements to our online enforcement database are part of our commitment to open, transparent enforcement," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "By making this information available and easy to use, we're helping to ensure a level playing field for employers who follow the law."

In addition to mapping capabilities, the updated site allows users to easily view important agency metrics; perform keyword searches; filter data by year, violations or penalties; and export search results or an entire data set into downloadable formats. A new "labs" feature allows users to create data visualizations and animations using several decades of MSHA data.

The Labor Department created the enforcement database, available at http://ogesdw.dol.gov, to increase transparency, participation and collaboration as part of the administration's Open Government Initiative.