OSHA Reveals 2007 Inspection Plan

May 18, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) intends to do drop-in inspections on more than 4,100 high-hazard worksites this coming year, based on the injury and illness data it has received.

According to a press release from the agency, the 2007 Site-Specific Targeting (SST) plan stems from 2006 data that includes surveys of about 80,000 employers of their injury and illness numbers for 2005.

The program will initially cover worksites on the primary list that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees, or the DART rate.

The sites included on the primary list will be based on a Days Away from Work Injury and Illness (DAFWII) rate of 9.0 or higher. However, those who are on the primary list who reported DART rates of between 7.0 and 11.0, or DAFWII rates of between 4.0 and 9.0, will be placed on a secondary list for possible inspection.

OSHA will inspect nursing homes and personal care facilities in the highest 50% of rated establishments. The agency will also randomly inspect approximately 100 workplaces with 100 or more employees that report low injury and illness rates.

Some establishments that did not respond to the 2006 data survey will also be included on the primary list .

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