Are you in the manufacturing or construction industry? If so, you might be more likely to see an OSHA visit in 2020 based on a new weighting system for safety inspections.
OSHA will now be implementing a new system to prioritize workplace inspections and enforcement activities as announced in a recent press release. The new OSHA Weighting System, or OWS, replaces the previous Enforcement Weighting Systems, or EWS, and became effective on October 1.
The new system will help agency employees better allocate limited resources and focus on critical areas that have the most impact, according to OSHA.
Previously, OSHA measured its enforcement activity on the number of completed inspections and prioritized them based on the time an inspection took to complete.
Instead, the OWS will be based on a number of new factors including the types of hazards to be inspected and abated and the overall impact of the inspection’s potential to improve workplace safety. This, of course, could result in a higher likelihood of inspections at facilities that:
- have criminal or significant cases
- have complex hazards
- previously had a fatality or catastrophe
- have hazards that are one of the four leading causes of death in the workplace
- are listed in the agency’s site specific targeting plan
According to Patrick Kapust, acting director of the OSHA Directorate of Enforcement Programs, “The revised system will enable the agency to focus resources on the most hazardous conditions that put workers at the greatest risk of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The expected result is increased worker safety.”
All this means that it’s a good time to make sure you have clear view of your OSHA requirements and your current programs.
One way to start would be to take a look at OSHA’s new video explaining the inspection process:
As always, Novus is happy to answer any questions or to help you find a provider to keep your facility and your safe. Contact us today to learn more.
OSHA’s 2019 Top 10 Most Cited Violation List
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