The Law as a Force for Change

Litigation attorney Dan Small authored an article for Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly reflecting on the evolution of health and safety laws in the United States. He discusses his early career involvement with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to enforce the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Act's criminal provisions. Mr. Small highlights the shift from viewing workplace accidents as civil matters to treating serious violations as criminal offenses, particularly in cases resulting in fatalities. He emphasizes how this change shocked many in industries accustomed to traditional approaches, using the example of grain dust explosion cases to illustrate the law's potential as a force for necessary change in workplace safety practices.

READ: The Law as a Force for Change