DOL changes up its online enforcement database for easier, more open access

Today's post comes from G.Neil's HR News Weekly:

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently unveiled enhancements to its online enforcement database … all designed to improve public access and increase awareness of the department's enforcement activities.

Among the new features are a U.S. map with markers summarizing OSHA inspection and violation data for specific companies, as well as the ability to view individual inspection records and a company's enforcement history. The updated site also allows users to perform keyword searches; filter data by year, violations or penalties; and export search results into downloadable formats.

"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."

See for yourself! Visit the updated site here .

DOL changes up its online enforcement database for easier, more open access

OSHA to focus on forklift hazards in four states

Today's post comes from G.Neil's HR News Weekly:

Under a new regional inspection program, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hopes to reduce fatalities and serious injuries caused by forklifts and powered industrial trucks. The program will focus primarily on employer compliance in warehouses and service companies in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. (If a company is the subject of a complaint inspection or site-specific targeting inspection, however, it will be checked for forklift violations, too).

Inspections will cover:

•    Operator training – Employees should be trained for the specific vehicle they’re operating (and each vehicle they operate), and re-evaluated every three years, per OSHA standards. OSHA investigators will observe actual forklift operations and interview employees to determine compliance with operating, traveling and loading requirements.

•    Maintenance and repair – Forklifts and powered industrial trucks should have the appropriate load plates and fully operational safety equipment. Investigators will review the shift pre-operation inspection checklist, as well as the company’s procedures for correcting equipment defects and problems.

•    Clear pathways – Just as important as proper training and the condition of the vehicles themselves are the pathways the forklifts travel. Investigators will look for clearly visible pathways, which are necessary to reduce “struck by” hazards.

Check out our Forklift Training Compliance Bundle for all the tools you need to ensure compliance – a 2-disc forklift safety training program, a forklift safety poster, a forklift operator’s daily checklist and a forklift operator evaluation form.

OSHA to focus on forklift hazards in four states

OSHA to set its "sights" on high-risk, non-construction worksites

OSHA recently narrowed down the high-hazard manufacturing, non-manufacturing and nursing home sites it plans to inspect under its 2010 Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program. Designed to direct the agency’s enforcement efforts to riskier workplaces, the SST program is OSHA’s primary inspection plan for non-construction sites with 40 or more workers.

The plan relies on OSHA’s 2009 Data Initiative survey, which collects injury and illness data from 80,000 private sector establishments in high-hazard industries in the previous year. The 4,100 workplaces selected for inspection were among 15,000 employers who received warning letters from OSHA in March, informing them they had twice the number of injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activities or job transfers.

“Our goal is to prevent worker injuries and illnesses and save lives,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. “The Site-Specific Targeting program helps OSHA focus its enforcement resources to high-risk employers who are endangering their workers' health and safety.” osha.gov

Even if your business wasn’t targeted for inspection, you should strive to meet all OSHA safety standards, prevent accidents, and properly document injuries and illnesses. The right OSHA recordkeeping forms and tools can help you maintain a safe, OSHA-compliant workplace.

OSHA to set its "sights" on high-risk, non-construction worksites

Employers can expect a spike in OSHA penalties under new policy

As part of a longer-term enforcement plan, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is moving forward with a new, stricter administrative penalty policy that became effective October 1, 2010. Many experts felt that OSHA’s penalties, which have been around since the early 1970s, were too low to act as a deterrent. A handful of penalty adjustments will have a much wider, harder-hitting effect on employers.

Under the new policy, the time period for reviewing an employer’s past history of OSHA violations – to determine a “repeat” violation and any penalty increases or reductions – will expand from three to five years. An employer who has been cited by OSHA for a high-gravity, serious, willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violation within the last five years will receive a 10% penalty increase, up to the statutory maximum. (At the same time, any employer who has been inspected in the last five years and has none of these violations will receive a 10% penalty reduction.)

Among the other adjustments with the new policy:

• High-gravity, serious violations under OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program (SVEP) don’t have to be grouped but, rather, can be cited as separate violations with their own penalties

• OSHA officers can consider the gravity of serious violations (the severity and probability of an injury/illness resulting from a hazard) to issue penalties ranging from $3,000 to $7,000

• Employers with 251 or more employees will not receive any penalty reduction for employer size

• Good-faith procedures will continue, where employers can earn a reduction if they have a solid safety and health program in place, and are clear of any high-gravity, serious, willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations

• Also retained is the 15% “quick fix” reduction for employers who immediately address any hazards identified in an inspection

• The minimum proposed penalty for a serious violation will increase to $500, and the minimum penalty for a posting violation will increase to $250 (if OSHA previously provided the company a poster)

In light of OSHA’s new penalty policy, you should carefully audit your safety and health program, remove all workplace hazards, enhance your safety practices, and properly document accidents and injuries. Check out our OSHA recordkeeping forms and tools for clear direction and easier compliance.

Employers can expect a spike in OSHA penalties under new policy