OSHA Provides Penalty Break for Small Business Employers
Effective April 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will offer penalty reductions of up to 60 percent to employers with 25 or fewer employees. Small business employers facing fines for violating safety and health standards will be eligible for this penalty reduction if they take acceptable steps to mitigate the violations. For more information about this topic, contact SGIA’s Government Information department.
Update on OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program
As previously noted, OSHA plans to convene a small business review panel for its upcoming rulemaking on a federal injury and illness prevention program. Rich Thompson, Ad Graphics Inc, will be participating on this panel. This review is a mandatory step in the rulemaking process, which has been temporarily delayed. The OSHA staff is still in the process of preparing materials for the review participants. A meeting date has not yet been set. For more information, contact SGIA’s Government Information department.
OSHA Issues Safety Incentive & Disincentive Programs
In a recent memo to OSHA Regional Administrators and whistleblower investigative staff, OSHA's Deputy Assistant Secretary, Richard Fairfax, addressed workplace policies and practices that can discourage workers from reporting injuries. Some of these policies and practices may violate OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations; particularly the requirement that ensures workers can report work-related injuries and illnesses. For more information, contact SGIA’s Government Information department.
OSHA Sends Letters to 14,900 Workplaces
Dr. David Michaels, OSHA assistant secretary of labor, sent letters to approximately 14,900 workplaces with high rates of days away from work, restricted work or job transfer in 2010. For each 100 full-time workers, these employers had two or more injuries or illnesses that resulted in days away from work, restricted work or job transfer. The national average is 1.8. Dr. Michael’s letter encouraged employers to utilize OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program. On-site consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. For more information, contact SGIA’s Government Information department.
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