OSHA program targets high injury and illness rates

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating the Site-Specific Targeting 2016 (SST-16) Program using injury and illness information electronically submitted by employers for calendar year 2016. The program will target high-injury-rate establishments in both the manufacturing and nonmanufacturing sectors for inspection.

Under this program, the agency will perform inspections of employers the agency believes should have provided 300A data, but did not, for 2016 injury and illness data collection. For 2016 OSHA required employers to submit Form 300A data electronically by Dec. 15, 2017. The 2017 deadline was July 1, 2018; however, employers may still provide this information to the database.

Going forward, establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20 to 249 employees that are classified in specific industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses, will be required to provide this information each year by March 2.

OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program offers employers with up to 250 workers free, confidential safety and health advice on complying with OSHA standards and establishing and improving safety and health programs.