Transcript OSHA UPDATE
OSHA UPDATE Rod Smith Sherman & Howard LLC November 6, 2009 The New Lineup at OSHA • Hilda Solis – Secretary of Labor • David Michaels – Proposed Head of OSHA • Jordan Barab – Acting Head of OSHA • Deborah Berkowitz – Chief of Staff OSHA’s New Theme: “Back in the Enforcement Business” • • • • • • • • Increased budget More inspectors Higher penalties More press releases Greater criminal enforcement New standards OSHA Reform Less emphasis on “cooperative compliance” programs. National Special Emphasis Programs • Combustible dust • Amputations • Nursing and personal care facilities • Lead • Silica National Special Emphasis Programs • Trenching and excavation • Petroleum refiners/PSM-covered facilities • Stimulus projects • Recordkeeping Local Emphasis Programs • Falls in construction • Traffic work zone safety • Oil and gas well drilling and servicing • Stone fabrication and slab handling 2009 Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Program • 4,000 “high hazard” worksites selected for comprehensive inspection • List based on 2007 OSHA 300 injury and illness rates: – “DART Rate” – days away from work, restricted duty, and job transfer – “DAFWII Rate” – days away from work 2009 SST Program – Primary List DART rate DAFWII rate • Manufacturing >8 >6 • Non-manufacturing > 15 > 13 • Nursing homes > 17 > 14 2009 SST Program – Secondary List DART rate DAFWII rate • Manufacturing > 6.0 • Non-manufacturing > 6.0 • Nursing homes > 15.0 > 4.0 > 4.0 > 11.0 New OSHA Standards • Increased “per employee” penalties for PPE violations – effective January 12, 2009 • Updated PPE Standard to incorporate current national consensus standards – effective October 9, 2009 • Updated Acetylene Standard to incorporate current national consensus standards – effective November 9, 2009 Proposed OSHA Standards • Combustible dust • Confined space in construction • Cranes and derricks in construction • Silica • Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals • Ergonomics (?) OSHA Reform: The “Protecting America’s Workers Act of 2009” (S. 1580, H.R. 2067) • Expands OSHA to all federal, state and some local workers • Expands OSHA “whistleblower” protection • Grants new “Victim’s Rights” • Allows employees and unions to object to and even contest OSHA settlement agreements • Significantly increases penalties for OSHA violations • Expands OSHA’s criminal liability to willful violations causing “serious bodily injury” and “responsible corporate officers” • Prospects for passage What do we do now? For More Information: • www.osha.gov • Rod Smith, Esq. (303) 299-8197 [email protected] • Sherman & Howard’s “OSHA Update”