OSHA Releases Latest High-Hazard Workplaces Plan
This plan applies to establishments in the targeted industries with 20 or more workers; earlier versions applied only to establishments with 40 or more.
OSHA issued its inspection plan under the Site-Specific Targeting 2011 (SST-11) program, which targets high-hazard non-construction workplaces with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses. This plan applies to establishments in the targeted industries with 20 or more workers; earlier versions applied only to establishments with 40 or more.
SST is OSHA's chief programmed inspection plan for such workplaces. The 2011 version is based on employers' reports of above-average work-related injury and illness rates in a 2010 OSHA Data Initiative survey of 80,000 larger establishments in selected high-hazard industries. The agency selects establishments randomly for inspection from a primary list of 3,700 manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and nursing and personal care facilities.
"By focusing our inspection resources on employers in high-hazard industries who endanger their employees, we can prevent injuries and illnesses and save lives," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "Through the SST program, we examine all major aspects of these operations to determine the effectiveness of their safety and health efforts."
Besides the change from 40 to 20 as the threshold, an evaluation study measuring the program's impact on future compliance with OSHA standards has been introduced for the 2011 program.