OSHA targets high-hazard jobs in proposed budget
Agency zeroes in on nursing home ergonomics
Targeted enforcement of the most hazardous workplaces, including nursing homes, would increase in the proposed FY 2004 budget for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA also announced an enhanced enforcement policy for employers who "expose their workers to serious safety and health hazards and who continue to defy worker safety and health regulations."
About 200 nursing home inspections have occurred already under the National Emphasis Program, which began September 2002.
Inspectors focus on ergonomic hazards as well as bloodborne pathogens, slips and falls, and tuberculosis. "We’ve got a number of [ergonomics] cases that are in the works," said John Henshaw, OSHA administrator.
OSHA’s comprehensive approach to ergonomics provides for enforcement under the agency’s general duty clause, which requires employers to create a workplace free of recognized hazards.
"We’ll make a strong push to increase the number of inspections," said Henshaw. "We will continue to focus on the worst hazards and the most dangerous worksites."
The proposed budget of $450 million represents a 3% increase from FY 2003, including a 12% increase in compliance assistance. OSHA will make a special outreach geared toward Hispanic workers.
OSHA also plans to initiate a study of chemicals that pose a respiratory hazard in health care. OSHA’s goal is to conduct 37,700 inspections this year and to reduce injuries and illnesses overall by 8%.
In its enhanced enforcement, OSHA plans to target employers who have the highest severity of willful violations, multiple serious violations at the highest level of severity, repeat violations, failure-to-abate notices, or a serious or willful violation associated with a fatality.
In those cases, OSHA will conduct follow-up inspections and programmed inspections. It will place stronger language in settlement agreements with those employers and will, in some cases, seek federal court enforcement, OSHA said.
Targeted enforcement of the most hazardous workplaces, including nursing homes, would increase in the proposed FY 2004 budget for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA also announced an enhanced enforcement policy for employers who expose their workers to serious safety and health hazards and who continue to defy worker safety and health regulations.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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