OSHA update

OSHA launches 2010 SST Program

In late August, OSHA narrowed its 2010 Site Specific Targeting Program enforcement efforts to approximately 4,100 sites with high days away, restricted or transferred rates (DART); or high days away from work injury and illness rates. In its compliance directive, OSHA explains how to determine if your company will be targeted:

• About 3,300 manufacturing establishments with a DART rate of 7 or higher, or a DAFWII rate of 5 or higher
• 500 nonmanufacturing establishments with a DART rate of 15 or higher, or a DAFWII rate of 14 or higher
• 300 nursing or personal care facilities with a DART rate of 16 or higher, or a DAFWII rate of 13 or higher

The program is based on 2008 injury and illness data collected in the 2009 Data Initiative, an annual survey on work-related injuries and illnesses. Only non-construction workplaces with 40 or more employees are eligible for the SST Program.

If your injury rates are below these measures, you may still have a targeted inspection. OSHA Area Offices that complete their inspections of the establishments on the primary inspection list before the expiration of the SST 2010 program may move on to secondary then tertiary inspection lists targeting employers with respectively lower DART and DAFWII rates.

While it is not unusual for OSHA to assemble annually a list of employers with high injury and illness rates, and to conduct SST inspections of those employers, what is new is OSHA's enhanced level of enforcement. Enforcement budgets have expanded and higher penalties are more frequently imposed. A number of facilities that appeared on OSHA's list have already been inspected and received fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
If you were one of the 15,000 employers, (view list), that received a letter earlier this year, be sure to contact your Advisor. 

OSHA launches initiative to discourage texting when driving

OSHA has announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat distracted driving.The multi-pronged initiative includes:

• An education campaign for employers, to be launched during "Drive Safely Work Week" in early October, will call on employers to prevent occupationally related distracted driving, with a special focus on prohibiting texting while driving.


• An open letter to employers to be posted on OSHA's website, during "Drive Safely Work Week." The website also will showcase model employer policies and encourage employer and labor associations to communicate OSHA's message.


• Alliances with key organizations as outreach to employers, especially small employers, aimed at combating distracted driving and prohibit texting while driving.


• Special emphasis on reaching younger workers by coordinating with other Labor Department agencies as well as alliance partners and stakeholders.


• Investigate and issue citations and penalties where necessary to end the practice when OSHA receives a credible complaint that an employer requires texting while driving.