Heather L. MacDougall, a former Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), counsels clients on labor and employment issues, with a focus on workplace safety and health matters. She advises on disputes before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and assists with the development and assessment of workplace safety programs. Heather also advises on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, and her experience with congressional oversight and regulation while leading a federal agency and while serving as the senior safety executive of a large corporation provides unique perspectives for client matters involving Capitol Hill and other government entities.
After being twice unanimously confirmed by voice vote in the Senate to serve on OSHRC for five years, as both Commissioner, following President Barack Obama’s nomination, and Chairman, following President Donald Trump’s nomination, Heather joined Amazon as its Vice President, Worldwide Workplace Health and Safety. In this role, she oversaw Amazon’s health and safety initiatives at a crucial time—the height of the COVID-19 pandemic alongside significant workforce growth. At Amazon, Heather achieved significant safety improvements at facilities and in its transportation network through a safety management system that assessed and reduced risk, deployed programs highlighting technology, utilized data and analytic insights to enhance decision-making; and engaged with and developed safety competencies of managers, employees, and partners. Heather has also handled shareholder proposals regarding social issues.
Before joining the OSHRC, Heather spent 20 years representing US employers on labor, employment, and occupational safety and health matters. Early in her career, Heather served as associate general counsel to the HR Policy Association, representing the public policy organization as amicus curiae in US Court of Appeals and Supreme Court cases.
Member, Band 1, Occupational Safety and Health Practice Group, Nationwide, Chambers USA (2023)
Associate Safety Professional certification