The U.S. Department of Labor announced it has added new features to its Enforcement Data site, including enhanced visualization and search functionality. The initiative is a key component of DOL’s Open Government Plan.
Updates include:
- Map displays of Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration inspection and violation data;
- Viewable inspection records and enforcement history of specific companies or mines;
- Keyword search with year, violations or penalties filters;
- Labs section where visitors can create visualizations and animations using historical MSHA data; and
- Downloadable search results and datasets
“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.”
According to the site, future open data initiatives include hosting a developer mash-up competition to “find innovative ways of using DOL’s enforcement data to promote workers safety and protect workers’ rights,” as well as integrating the Enforcement Data Warehouse with other federal and state enforcement agencies data systems.
