The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised its inspection program, focusing on establishments with the highest rates of workplace injuries and illnesses. This update aims to better allocate enforcement resources based on data collected under OSHA's recordkeeping requirements.
The Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program serves as OSHA's primary planned inspection initiative for non-construction workplaces with 20 or more employees. The selection criteria for inspections will utilize OSHA Form 300A data from 2021 to 2023, targeting:
- Establishments with high injury and illness rates from 2023.
- Workplaces showing upward trends in injury and illness rates between 2021 and 2023 that are at or above twice the private sector average of 2022.
- Locations with injury and illness rates significantly below industry averages.
- Facilities that failed to submit an OSHA Form 300A in 2023.
This new directive supersedes the previous SST program directive issued on February 7, 2023. Additionally, OSHA employs national and local emphasis programs to address high-risk industries and hazards.
OSHA also offers an On-Site Consultation Program, providing free, confidential services to small- and medium-sized businesses. This initiative helps identify workplace hazards, ensures compliance with OSHA standards, and assists in establishing effective safety programs without resulting in penalties or citations.
For further details about OSHA's initiatives, interested parties can learn more about these emphasis programs.
