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The overall objective of our audit was to follow up on findings in our March 1997 audit, and determine whether improvements have been made. We found that Job Corps has made limited progress implementing a model safety and health program and reducing accidents and injuries, and that Job Corps' responsibilities described in the MOU have largely been unfulfilled. The injury/illness rate for new students is the same in Fiscal Year (FY) 99 as it was in FY 94.
Job Corps initiated a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Office of Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish a model safety and health program for its centers and to resolve some of the weaknesses identified in our earlier audit. Job Corps also established performance standards aimed at reducing the number of accidents and injuries. However, we found that the Center Safety Officers (CSO) have taken few of the nine safety and health courses required by the Policy and Requirements Handbook and Job Corps Project Managers (JCPM) have not taken any of these courses. Also, center inspections were conducted informally and were not always documented. There was no adequate system to ensure that violations were properly and timely abated, and the reliability of statistical data accumulated to assist in gauging Job Corps safety and health status was based on incomplete and inconsistent practices.
We recommended that Job Corps ensure safety and health duties and responsibilities at the centers are fulfilled, and abatement procedures formalized; center inspections are supplemented by greater supervision of student activities to prevent injuries; CSOs take all required safety and health training courses; JCPMs' performance standards be revised to include safety and health as critical elements of performance; abatement procedures for annual evaluations be followed; a standard definition for reportable injuries/illnesses and lost time cases to established and followed; and OASAM review the SHIMS reports for accuracy and completeness.
In response to our draft report, both Job Corps and OASAM agreed with most of our findings and recognized the need for implementing changes to the overall safety and health program. During a recent work group meeting, the MOU partners prepared an Annual Work Plan for 2001 and revised the MOU to address many of the findings and recommendations in this report. Job Corps plans to provide safety and health and monitoring training to the JCPMs during the next annual conference; increase the frequency and timeliness of training courses; fill the Safety and Health Program "Specialist" position; improve statistical information and provide better accountability; and rectify incompatible wiring, hardware and software requirements for a fully operational ATS at the centers.
OASAM also recognizes its responsibility and authority
for ensuring an effective and efficient Departmental safety and health
program. OASAM plans to ensure that its Regional Safety and Health Managers
obtain all required training courses, including a new Accident Investigation
course; include a section in the annual evaluation report that addresses
unabated violations from previous reviews; provide guidance and clarification
for reportable and recordable injuries and illnesses; and work with Job
Corps for accurate and timely reporting of injuries and illnesses.
(OA Report No. 05-00-007-03-370, issued September 22, 2000)
