Proposed OSHA Site-Specific Inspection Directive Targets Workplaces with Highest Injury and Illness Rates

In December, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an update to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Directive inspection program. If approved pending the Biden Administration review, the changes will include:

• A new targeting category that uses a three-year data collection range to target sites with consistent injury and illness rate increases during the three-year period.
• A change in the scope of an inspection from a comprehensive inspection to one that allows records-only inspections (in limited situations) when a Compliance Safety and Health Officer determines incorrect data led to a company’s inclusion in the program. OSHA will conduct a full inspection only when the employer has an actual elevated injury and illness rate.

It is also expected that OSHA will receive additional funding that can result in hiring more Compliance Safety and Health Officers to conduct more inspections.

Establishments for inspections are determined randomly. OSHA generates an inspection list based on data submitted by employers in 2017-2019. In addition, establishments that fail to provide OSHA the required data for three consecutive years will automatically be included on the list from which random selections are made.

nextSource encourages companies to consult with their Workplace Safety and Health Attorney to determine their potential risk of inspection and to prepare their worksites for an OSHA SST inspection.