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For Immediate Release, January 14, 1998

 

Cooperate and Participate or be on OSHA'S INSPECTION LIST for 1998

Under the new Enforcement-based Cooperative Compliance Program (CCP), Employers with 60 or more employees have until January 30, 1998 to respond to letters sent to them by OSHA. This falls under the 1998 Voluntary Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. .

OSHA sent out letters to employers who were on their primary inspection list for a comprehensive safety and health inspection. The employers selected are a result of an OSHA survey that collected workplace injury and illness data from employers with more than 60 employees in manufacturing and 14 other selected industries.

Do you know if you are on the list? The following is the list provided by OSHA of the Industries selected and their SIC Codes. If you are on this list, you are subject to this new CCP program under OSHA. According to OSHA, the program is voluntary however, if you elect not to participate, your Company will be a target for full OSHA inspections this year and remain on their Primary List.

When you agree to join the CCP program, you will not be subjected to an OSHA inspection until May 4th 1998 or later. You will also be required to agree to certain conditions of the agreement as follows:

1. Identify and correct safety and health hazards in your workplace

2. Actively involve your workers in the identification and abatement of hazards in the workplace, as described Section XVI of the compliance directive provided to you by OSHA. Workers include regular workers, management, temporary, and leased employees.

3. Implement a comprehensive safety and health program based upon the principles set forth in the 1998 Voluntary Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines.

Brief outline of the Safety and Health Program Guidelines:

A program which provides systematic policies, procedures, and practices that are adequate to recognize and protect workers from occupational safety and health hazards.
An effective program includes provisions for identification, evaluation, and prevention or control of general workplace hazards, specific job hazards, and potential hazards, which may arise from unforeseeable conditions.
An effective program is pro-active in preventing injuries and illness beyond compliance issues.
A written program providing guidance and outlining how to identify hazards and prevent injuries and illness, will assist in ensuring clear communications and consistent and fair application of the rules including the policies.

4. Actively involve your employees in the comprehensive safety and health program.

5. Work to significantly reduce your LWDII rate (Lost Workday Injury and Illness Rate).

6. Fill out the OSHA agreement and return it by January 30, 1998.

7. Send OSHA, once a year, information from the OSHA 200 annual summary form (the injury and illness log) during the two years of the program.

If you have 100 or fewer employees, there is an additional option available:

You may elect to join the CCP as describe above and commit to using a full service on-site visit from the State Consultation Program, and meet the obligations described above.

You must inform the Consultation Program Manager that your request has been made as a participant of the OSHA CCP.

You agree to involve your employees in the consultant's on-site visit, and show the employees the consultants report describing any hazards found, result of any workplace monitoring, the abatement and plans for abatement of the hazards.

By electing the use of a consultation program you will placed on a lower inspection priority (tertiary) list, which will OSHA only inspect 10% on this list. CCP inspections are not scheduled until the consultation manager has advised OSHA they have completed the abatement of the identified hazards.

Your Employment Risk Solutions, Inc. (YERS) has developed a very comprehensive Safety and Health Program as part of their Compliance Pro (A Trademark) software Program, which not only provides the recommended guidelines but also exceeds them. The Program provides graphic illustrations on proper lifting techniques, transfer of objects, ergonomics and workstations, avoiding eye fatigue, repetitive motion injuries, and nutritional guidance in the Health and Wellness section.

YERS recognized the lack of sound guidance in compliance issues for employment and labor laws, including safety and health available to the small business community. YERS developed Compliance Pro to bring the small business community a valuable resource and tool which provides guidance in all theses areas and written in practical and understandable language. The CCP program is not available to businesses with less than 60 employees, even though an employer with 15 or more employees falls under Title VII and OSHA regulations. OSHA is starting to recognize the need for assistance to the small business community, however has not implement any significant programs that we are aware of.

YERS programs are currently endorsed by The Independent Bankers Association of Texas and are been utilized by such companies as ABBSeatech, IKON Office Solutions, A&B Parts Group a Division of Delco Remy and The Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.