April 19, 2011

OSHA sends letter to 14,600 workplaces with highest injury, illness rates

OSHA has identified and sent letters to approximately 14,600 workplaces with the highest occupational injury and illness rates and is urging the employers to take action to remove hazards causing the high rates.

The employers are those whose establishments are covered by federal OSHA and reported the highest "Days Away from work, Restricted work or job Transfer injury and illness" (DART) rate to OSHA in a survey of 2009 injury and illness data. For every 100 full-time workers, the 14,600 employers had 2.5 or more injuries or illnesses which resulted in days away from work, restricted work or job transfer. The national average is 1.8.

The letter encourages employers to consider hiring an outside safety and health consultant, talking with their insurance carrier, contacting the workers' compensation agency in their state for advice, or contacting OSHA's on-site consultation program. The letter tells the employer where the OSHA consultation program in that state may be contacted.

Safety Policy and Procedures

Don’t let OSHA investigators catch you with generic and inaccurate safety policies. Because if they do, they’re more likely to find something to cite and fine you for—especially that all encompassing General Duty Clause.

If your policies are outdated, incomplete or misleading, there might be a disconnect between what you say you do and what you actually do. And that kind of confusion will hurt your chances of surviving an OSHA inspection without citations.

Poorly written safety policies create liability for your organization, but well-written safety policies have a wide sphere of influence beyond just improving safety and covering your corporate behind. Well-written safety policies have a huge, positive influence on performance and productivity, help prevent injuries, limit liability, and reduce insurance costs.

Not sure yet where your policies are lacking? Need to know where to start to create effective safety policies? Avoid the most common mistakes that many companies make and craft your policies with best practices tips from a safety professional who works with companies and manufacturers on a daily basis.

U.S. Court of Appeals upholds fall protection directive for residential construction

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected a challenge by the National Roofing Contractors Association to OSHA's December 2010 directive on the use of fall protection in residential construction. The directive withdrew an earlier one that allowed certain residential construction employers to bypass some fall protection requirements.

Data from the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that averages of 40 workers were killed each year as a result of falls from residential roofs. One-third of those deaths represent Latino workers, who often lack sufficient access to safety information and protections. Latino workers comprise more than one-third of all construction employees.

OSHA's new directive, Standard 03-11-002, rescinded the Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction, Standard 03-00-001. Prior to the issuance of this new directive, Standard 03-00-001 allowed employers engaged in certain residential construction activities to use specified alternative methods of fall protection rather than the conventional fall protection required by the residential construction fall protection standard. With the issuance of the new directive, all residential construction employers must comply with 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1926.501(b)(13). Where residential builders can demonstrate that traditional fall protection is not feasible, 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13) still allows for alternative means of providing protection.

Construction and roofing companies have until June 16 to comply with the new directive. OSHA has developed training and compliance assistance materials for small employers and will host a webinar for parties interested in learning more about complying with the standard