Make no mistake – OSHA is back in the enforcement business
After nearly a decade of elatively lax enforcement and an emphasis on cooperation, OSHA has made it clear it’s ramping up inspections and citations.
OSHA has received two consecutive budget increases, and a large chunk of that new cash is going directly to hiring more inspectors focused on finding safety violations at businesses across all industries.
As Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said shortly after her appointment was confirmed: “There’s a new sheriff in town.” But that focus on enforcement is just the tip of the iceberg. OSHA administrator David Michaels says the agency wants to increase the sting companies feel if they do get hit with a citation. The agency is pushing for higher penalties and even individual criminal charges at companies with considerable violations.
What’s more, OSHA is demanding that companies identify their own hazards, regardless of what standards are on the books, through the proposed Injury Illness Prevention Program (i2p2) and an increased use of the General Duty Clause (GDC), which states that employers must maintain a facility that is free from recognized Hazards.
The message is clear: Employers must keep workplaces safe. And if they don’t, OSHA is coming after them with everything it’s got. That’s why it’s more important than ever to make sure your facility complies with OSHA regs and that employees know what steps to take if an inspector shows up.
Many companies have found success conducting mock OSHA inspections – drills where one employee (usually the safety manager but always a safety pro at the organization) poses as an inspector and goes through the facility just like an OSHA rep would. The “inspector” leaves no stone unturned in his/her search to assure the facility and its operations comply with applicable regs and can speak with employees to see how they’d react talking to a real OSHA inspector. There is no shortage of consultants happy to charge a fee for conducting mock inspections for companies seeking to double-check their compliance.
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About PCS
We are a Team of passionate professionals that have live and breath Workplace Safety for over 30 years. Our ultimate goal each day is to provide a safe work environment for every worker and to return each employee home and uninjured. PCS Safety Inc “PCS” partners with like-minded businesses that share a similar passion and who seek to take Work Safety to the next level. Our proven service delivery is customized for everyone client as we understand that each business is unique in service and culture.
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