OSHA has issued its 2012 Site-Specific Targeting plan to direct enforcement resources to workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur.
OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program is OSHA’s main programmed inspection plan for non-construction workplaces that have 20 or more employees.
The SST plan is based on the data received from the prior year’s ODI survey. The ODI survey and the SST program help OSHA achieve its goal of reducing the number of injuries and illnesses that occur at individual workplaces by directing enforcement resources to those workplaces where the highest rate of injuries and illness have occurred.
“Through the SST program, we can prevent injuries and illnesses, and save lives by focusing our inspection resources on employers in high-hazard worksites where workers are at greater risk,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels.
In addition, OSHA implements both national and local “emphasis” inspection programs to target high-risk hazards and industries. OSHA currently has 11 National Emphasis Programs (NEPs) focusing on amputations, lead, crystalline silica, primary metals, shipbreaking, trenching/excavations, process safety management covered chemical facilities, hexavalent chromium, federal agencies, combustible dust, and nursing and residential care facilities.
To read the full plan click here.
OSHA’s site-specific targeting program is an interesting one to watch. Certainly, it’s important to focus enforcement resources on areas needing improvement, but accidents can also happen where previous problems are almost non-existent.