Trump has nominated Scott Mugno, vice president of safety, sustainability, and vehicle maintenance at Fed-Ex Ground, to head OSHA.
Mugno has worked for FedEx in a variety of safety-related roles since 1994, first as an attorney and then as managing director of safety, health and fire prevention for the Tennessee-based shipping giant in 2000. The White House noted that Mugno was twice awarded FedEx’s highest honor, the FedEx Five Star Award, for his safety leadership at the company.
Jordan Barab, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor at OSHA from 2009 to 2017, said Mugno “is clearly knowledgeable about safety and health, although he has a few upsetting notions.” They include “sunsetting” certain OSHA regulations; in other words, allowing them to expire or requiring that they be re-issued after a fixed time.
“All in all,” said Barab, “it could have been much worse.” Barab said Mugno will likely shift the emphasis at the agency from enforcement to compliance assistance program, “but won’t try to dismantle the agency.”
Jim Smith, M.S., CSP, president of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), predicted that Mugno will make a significant impact leading OSHA.
“He was proactive in putting together our first transportation symposium in 2007, and has also contributed to the professional development of our members. I know Scott would make a significant impact leading OSHA, and we look forward to working with him on important safety and health matters.”
Mugno has been an ASSE member since 2004.
Prior to joining FedEx, Mugno, served as a Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the Easter Region U.S. Army Military Traffic Management Command along with other legal positions in the U.S. Army JAG Corps.
