OSHA alerts worksites with high injury rates
The Washington, DC-based Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is alerting 14,200 employers across the country that their injury and illness rates are higher than average and encouraging them to take steps to reduce hazards and protect their workers. The 14,200 sites are listed alphabetically by state on OSHA’s web site at: www.osha.gov/as/opa/foia/hot_9.html. However, the list does not designate those earmarked for programmed inspections.
"The purpose of the notification process is to alert employers that their injury and illness rates are above average," says OSHA administrator John Henshaw, "and then offer assistance that will help reduce those rates. This process not only raises awareness among employers of their higher-than-average injury and illness rates, but it also affords them a golden opportunity to take steps to reduce those rates."
OSHA identified establishments with the nation’s highest lost workday injury and illness rates based on data reported by 93,000 employers surveyed by the agency last year (that survey collected injury and illness data from calendar year 2001). This was the first year the data collection initiative included the construction industry (13,000 construction employers were surveyed).
The two major groups of industries that received the most alert letters were manufacturing (7,108) and construction (1,692). When broken down into individual industries, they ranked as follows:
- skilled nursing facilities (1,579);
- nursing and personal care facilities not elsewhere classified (322);
- trucking, except local (303);
- plastics products, not elsewhere classified (291);
- plumbing, heating and air conditioning (279);
- department stores (256);
- general warehousing and storage (250);
- courier services, except by air (208);
- general contractors — nonresidential buildings — other than industrial buildings and warehouses (196);
- electrical work (187).
Workplaces receiving the alert letters had six or more injuries or illnesses resulting in lost workdays or restricted activity for every 100 full-time workers. Nationwide, the average U.S. workplace had just under three lost-time instances for every 100 workers.
Henshaw sent letters to all employers with high injury and illness rates, and provided copies of their injury and illness data, along with a list of the most frequently violated OSHA standard for their specific industry. While addressing his concerns for the high rates, Henshaw also offered the agency’s help in turning those rates around, suggesting, among other things, the hiring of outside safety and health consultants and using free safety and health consultation services provided by the agency through the states.
"The data collection initiative, which is conducted each year, gives us a clearer picture of those establishments with higher-than-normal injury and illness rates," says Henshaw. "Armed with this information, we’ll not only be able to place our inspection resources where they’re most needed, but we can also use the information to plan outreach and compliance assistance programs where they will benefit the most."
The Washington, DC-based Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is alerting 14,200 employers across the country that their injury and illness rates are higher than average and encouraging them to take steps to reduce hazards and protect their workers.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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