EPA/OSHA
June 23, 2003
OSHA Launches Surprise Inspections Based on Worker Illness/Injury Rates
As of June 16, officials from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began a year-long round of unannounced inspections of high-hazard worksites, as determined by 2001 OSHA reports on workers' injury/illness rates and related days away from work. About 3,200 workplaces have been selected for the initial round of inspections as part of this OSHA initiative, which expands a five-year-old program to include new criteria based on employees' days away from work due to an illness/injury.
According to the OSHA announcement, primary inspection targets are worksites that "reported 14 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in lost work days or restricted activity for every 100 full-time workers (known as the LWDII rate.) For the first time, sites will also be targeted based on a 'Days Away from Work Injury and Illness' (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher (nine or more cases that involved days away from work per 100 full-time employees)" in the 2001 OSHA reports. OSHA is also compiling a secondary list of targets for possible inspection: employers who reported LWDII rates of between 8 and 14, or DAFWII rates of between 4 and 9.
Also in this program, OSHA will randomly select and inspect about 200 worksites that reported low injury/illness rates "for the purpose of reviewing the actual degree of compliance with OSHA requirements."
Members with questions about OSHA inspections should contact , IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs and counsel, at (202) 220-3554.
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