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News Release 98-1
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998
Contact: Frank Kane (202) 219-8151

Gregory R. Watchman is leaving his post as deputy assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to practice law with a Washington, D.C., law firm.

Watchman will leave OSHA at the end of September to join the firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker. His practice will include occupational safety and health, labor and employment law, and legislative issues.

He served more than three and a half years with OSHA, including 10 months as acting assistant secretary in the period following the departure of Joseph A. Dear and before Charles N. Jeffress took over in November 1997.

As deputy assistant secretary, he was responsible for regulatory policy and legislative and interagency affairs, as well as oversight of OSHA's Health Standards, Safety Standards, Policy and Technical Support directorates.

While he was acting assistant secretary, OSHA promulgated important regulations on methylene chloride, longshoring, and hazard abatement and proposed a standard to protect workers against tuberculosis.

Assistant Secretary Jeffress said, "Greg Watchman performed invaluable service for OSHA, particularly in leading the agency during the interim between assistant secretaries. We all wish him well in his new endeavors."

Before coming to OSHA, Watchman held key staff positions with U.S. Senate and House committees that deal with labor, occupational safety and health and employment issues. He began his career as an associate with the Washington, D.C., law firm of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, specializing in labor and employment law.