OSHA Updates Inspections Manual: What it Means for Employers

This updated document is for OSHA inspectors, but it can provide a lot of info to businesses, too.

As of Oct. 1, 2015, OSHA inspectors are following a new Field Operations Manual (FOM).

Its purpose, as laid out on the manual’s cover page:

“To provide OSHA offices, State Plan programs and federal agencies with policy and procedures concerning the enforcement of occupational safety and health standards. Also, this instruction provides current information and ensures occupational safety and health standards are enforced with uniformity.”

Here are some key sections in the 280-page document:

Workplace violence

OSHA said recently it will give more attention to inspections that involve workplace violence. Industries that are more susceptible to this hazard should take note of this in the FOM:

“If the employer is in an industry OSHA has identified as a high risk for workplace violence (such as late-night retail, social service and healthcare settings, and correctional facilities) the [inspector] should inquire about the existence of a workplace violence prevention program.”

The inspector will use the prevention program to determine whether workplace violence hazards have been reduced or eliminated.

Incentive programs

OSHA inspectors will look to see whether any incentive or punitive programs have caused a company to miss reporting worker injuries.

Such omissions can be violations of OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations.

Read Full Article At Safetynewsalert.com

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