osha update teresa a. harrison deputy regional administrator

OSHA UPDATE

Teresa A. HarrisonDeputy Regional Administrator

A NEW BOSS-NEW DIRECTION?

• David Michaels, PhD, MPH• Priorities:

– Vigorous enforcement of existing standards– Promulgating sensible new standards that use the latest

science– Responding quickly and forcefully when worker safety is

endangered– Giving voice to workers, especially those whose voices are

not easily heard; focusing on outreach material more suitable for employees

– Ensuring all workers and employers are treated fairly– Directing OSHA in a responsible, even-handed, open and

transparent way

ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR

• Issued highest fine in OSHA history• Introduced NEPs for chemical plants and

recordkeeping• Published a proposal on GHS and launched

rulemaking on combustible dust• Started a process to more closely examine state

plan activities• Eliminated quotas and launched an intensive

review of cooperative programs• Developing Severe Violator Enforcement program

to target irresponsible employers• Initiated a Texas construction sweep and

expanded the San Antonio DO to an AO

WHAT’S NEXT?

• 2010 budget of $558.6 million is a 10% increase• Plan to hire 200 additional employees including 100

CSHOs (Our ceiling 294)• Will work to publish standards for cranes & derricks

and electrical power generation• Move forward on rulemaking for beryllium, silica

dust, combustible dust, diacetyl, and recordkeeping MSD column amendment

• Task Group created to review PELs, TLVs, OELs, etc..to see what would be OSHA’s best approach

• New Whistleblower Statute – Health Care Reform Act

NEW WAYS OF COMMUNICATING

• DOL Newsletter – http://www.dol.gov/sec/newsletter/

• Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/hildasolis

• Twitter- http://twitter.com/USDOL• YouTube-

http://www.youtube.com/usdepartmentoflabor/

• E-mail Subscription Service- http://www.dol.gov/dol/email/htm

OSHA LISTENS

• Assistant Secretary held meeting with stakeholders to hear issues March 4 in DC

• 120 attendees spoke• Webcast for OSHA employees and an

additional webcast question and answer session for stakeholders to address OSHA’s Strategic Plan held in early April, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN REGION IV?

• Fatalities (Special Projects)• Enforcement • Staffing• Cooperative Programs; Alliances,

Partnerships, and VPP• Enhanced State Plan Monitoring

Opportunity StatementOpportunity Statement

Many roofing and carpentry workers of small employers (10 or less employees) are killed on‑the‑job in South and Central Florida. In fact, in the past five years (2002-2007) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated 96 fatalities within these industries. Seventy three percent (73%) of these deaths were directly related to fall hazards associated with the work activities these specialty companies perform.

DefineDefine

• Reduce fatalities experienced by employers in the 1751 and1761 SIC codes, with 10 or less employees.

• The project will increase the Outreach efforts toward the employers with 10 or fewer employees in SIC 1751/1761

• increase the interaction between OSHA, building inspectors, city and county governments by 10% (creating a specific training program for employers as part of their licensing process, training of building inspectors etc).

TAM Fatalities in SIC 1761

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

<10 EE All Falls All Fatalities

TMP Fatalities in SIC 1751

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

<10 EE All Falls All Fatalities

FTL Fatalities in SIC 1751

0

1

2

3

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

<10 EE All Falls All Fatalities

WHAT WORKEDWHAT WORKED

• MAD-4 Team developed a number of initiatives to implement– Initial “Kickoff” in area office – list

developed of affected employers and a mail out package sent

– Some were successful – some not– Mini Sweeps – Some initiatives that did not work

still have potential (need more than one year to really refine contacts)

SuccessfulSuccessful

Work with building inspectors.

FTL - Presentations made to the City of Marathon and Highland Beach

TMP - Worked with Building Official Association of Florida to schedule training for Building inspectors in three counties; Charlotte, Desoto, Sarasota, Manatee and Lee.

Outreach Sessions to

County Building Inspectors

6/1/08 – 05/31/09 6/1/09 – 12/31/09

FTL: 8 FTL: 2

TMP: 7 TMP: 3

SuccessfulSuccessful

OUTREACH INITIATIVESOUTREACH INITIATIVES

Number of building inspectors trained:

06/01/08-05/31/09 06/01/09-12/31/09FTL: 180 FTL: 30TMP: 206 TMP: 29

Referrals for SIC 1751 from Local Governments

2

1 5

4

0123456789

6/08-5/08

6/08-5/09

TAMPA

FTL

Referrals for SIC 1761from Local Governments

2

16

1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

6/08-5/08

6/08-5/09

TAMPA

FTL

FATALITIES

• FY 09 38% reduction; 153 vs. 242

• 41% reduction in fall related fatalities

• So far FY10; 64 fatalities

Oct. 1, 2009 ---- April 21, 2010ALL INDUSTRIES

Oct. 1, 2008 ---- April 21, 2009ALL INDUSTRIES

Oct. 1, 2009 ---- April 21, 2010CONSTRUCTION ONLY

Oct. 1, 2008 ---- April 21, 2009CONSTRUCTION ONLY

Oct. 1, 2008 ---- September 30, 2009ALL INDUSTRIES

Oct. 1, 2008 ---- September 30, 2009CONSTRUCTION ONLY

ENFORCEMENT

• Will conduct 5,939 inspections • 65% of resources in construction• National Emphasis programs: SST,

Recordkeeping; Combustible Dust; Amputations; Trenching; Silica; Lead and Hexavalent Chromium

• Regional and Local: Falls, Powerlines, Landscaping, Scrap Metal Recycling; Noise, Forklift trucks

TOP 10 VIOLATIONS First Half of Year

• Scaffolding• Fall Protection• Hazard Communication• Ladders• Process Safety Management• Respiratory Protection• Lockout/Tagout• Electrical, Wiring Methods• Powered Industrial Trucks• Electrical, General Requirements

SIGNIFICANT CASES

• FY09: 21 significant cases issued• So far FY10: 11 issued; several in

the pipeline• Several result of follow-up

inspections, fatalities, combustible dust

• Expand to multiple facilities where warranted

STAFFING

• Region IV received 59 additional FTE

• Most are CSHOs placed throughout the region

• Added four Whistleblower Investigators

• Hired 2 IHs for field support in the regional office

COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS

• Compliance assistance available• VPP processing applications and

conducting audits• Partnerships and Alliances Ongoing• Consultation Programs

STATE PLAN MONITORING

• Enhanced evaluations• Reports due to be completed by end

of June• Will be made public

QUESTIONS?

NOW’S YOUR CHANCE AND I WILL BE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PRESENTATION

Teresa A. HarrisonHarrison.teresa@dol.gov