New OSHA Program to Target High Injury & Illness Rates
Last month, OSHA announced that they are bringing back Site Specific Targeting (SST) that will utilize the 2016 300A data that employers submitted electronically in 2017.
This plan, effective on Oct. 16, 2018, has therefore been named the SST-16. SST is used by OSHA to target establishments with a high rate of injury or illness.
There are two type of OSHA inspections: Programmed and unprogrammed. Unprogrammed inspections are triggered by reports of fatalities, hospitalizations, employee complaints, and serious injuries.
OSHA’s programmed inspections are comprehensive, or “wall to wall,” inspections which are usually based on the nine National Emphasis Programs, and around 100 Regional and Local Emphasis Programs.
Related: OSHA Makes Changes to Recordkeeping Standard
SSTs are programmed inspections that apply to non-construction workplaces with more than 20 employees. For SST-16, OSHA will select certain establishments to verify the reliability of the information reported in the 300A forms.
Businesses will also be selected for the SST list if they have an “elevated” DART rate. DART stands for Days Away, Restricted or Transferred – it refers to how long an ill or injured employee is away from work.
OSHA will include a sampling of “high-rate” businesses that is divided in half between manufacturers and non-manufacturers. OSHA will also target employers who failed to submit their 2016 300A data last year.
For quality assurance purposes, the list will also include a sample of “low-rate” establishments.
Exemptions from the SST List
Establishments will be removed from the SST inspection list if they have received comprehensive safety or health inspections within 36 months of OSHA’s inspection cycle.
Also, employers participating in an On-Site Consultation Program is entitled to be removed from the list or have inspection delayed or deferred.
On-Site Consultation Programs include:
- The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program – Deferrals are allowed if a business is being certified as a SHARP participant. If approved, businesses are deleted from the inspection list.
- The Voluntary Protection Program – Deferrals are allowed if a VPP on-site review is scheduled. If an employer is certified or approved as a participant, they are deleted from the inspection list.
Related: OSHA’s Consultation Program Saves $1 Billion Every Year
Being Prepared For an OSHA Inspection
SST inspections are unannounced and random, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible to prepare for them.
There is no directive on how to determine if your DART rate is high enough to qualify for an inspection. But, if it is above the national average for the North American Industry Classification System code, you should assume you will be subject to a comprehensive inspection.
Related: Fined By OSHA? Here’s What You Need to do Next
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