December 3, 2018
An annual review highlights some of OSHA’s biggest hurdles as it works to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. A law from 2000 mandates that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifies the most serious management and performance challenges facing the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees OSHA.
The latest OIG report points out that OSHA, along with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), struggles with efficiently using limited resources to ensure worker safety, especially in high-risk industries like:
One major issue is the under-reporting of workplace injuries by employers. According to the report, this under-reporting hampers OSHA and MSHA’s ability to target inspections and compliance efforts effectively, as reliable data is essential for focusing on the most hazardous workplaces.
Verifying the abatement of construction hazards remains another significant challenge for OSHA. The agency often has to close citations before verification is complete because construction projects frequently end before the process is finished. This leaves OSHA uncertain whether employers with alleged safety violations will apply improved practices on future projects, particularly affecting small- and medium-sized construction firms.
For MSHA, tackling black lung disease among miners is a pressing issue. A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health revealed that black lung cases are at a 25-year high in Appalachian coal mining states.
Additionally, MSHA faces the challenge of reducing powered haulage incidents. In 2017, these incidents were responsible for 8% of all injuries and 50% of all fatalities in the mining industry. Powered haulage incidents involve the motion of the haulage unit, including issues caused by energized or moving units or component failures.
