Safe Workplaces Through Standards and Enforcement

by Dr. David Michaels on December 20, 2010 · 4 comments

Dr. David Michaels is the Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Why do construction workers need fall protection? Why are workers prohibited from repairing machinery before it is “locked out”?  Why are there limits to how much cancer causing asbestos or benzene workers can be exposed to?   Exposure to these hazards endangers workers; in order to ensure that employers protect workers from these and many other hazards, we issue standards and enforce them.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has standards that save workers’ lives, save money for employers and preserve resources for our society. But every year there are new hazards that threaten workers’ lives and health and old standards that need to be updated.

Most employers want to take the steps necessary to protect their employees. One way that OSHA is planning to help employers accomplish this is a proposed regulatory initiative that would set up a process to assist employers to “find and fix” workplace hazards.   This standard, called the Injury and Illness Prevention Program standard, is very similar to rules currently in place in California and several other states. It would require all high hazard employers to do what many responsible employers already do: implement a program or system that will help them identify hazards and prevent workers from getting injured, sick or killed on the job.

In addition to the Injury and Illness Prevention Program standard, OSHA is working on standards to protect workers from serious lung disease caused by silica; from slips, trips and falls; from confined spaces in the construction industry; from combustible dust explosions and from infectious diseases.

OSHA invites the public to participate in this activity through notice and comment, public hearings and special procedures to protect the interests of small businesses. We need your input, and your contribution will result in better worker protections.

Ed. Note: Please note that comments posted to this blog are not part of the formal rulemaking process. You can find DOL’s proposed regulations, and submit comments, by visiting www.regulations.gov.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 RICHARD GUARDIOLA December 21, 2010 at 10:35 pm

I was injured on the job due to faulty machinery, which the company knows about still and they are doing nothing about it that would prevent this from happening again to someone else. On September 21, 2010, I was the victim of a serious hand injury. I was locked out and still my fingers were crushed between the printing roll sections when the analox roll started turning as I was mounting a printing plate (die). There have been work orders filed, but to this day, the company cares more about production than the safety of the employees and I am blamed for getting hurt. I no longer work at the Boise Paper Holding company in Nampa, Idaho. I am also denied worker’s comp-ensation benefits even though this happened on company property and am still under a doctor’s care (hand specialist). I am left-handed (injured hand) and cannot regain full grip or strength to this day. Please help me in any way you can as I was the only source of income for my family. My fiancee has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and I was forced to cash in my 401K savings just to make ends meet, but it is about to run out soon. When I was terminated on November 1, 2010, I was denied any kind of representation by a Union Steward and belong to the AWPPW (Local 747), even though I asked for one. Please call me at (208)-922-0476 Day/Night or email at the address above. I will send a copy of the threat letter I received on October 1, 2010 by my boss, Dave Wride in re to this injury and being my fault. Thank you for your time. I am a Marine Corps Veteran (1981-1987) and this is how they thank me. Respecfully, RICHARD GUARDIOLA “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful) Dated: Dec. 21, 2010

2 al leone January 4, 2011 at 11:17 am

There should be more Compiance Officers for the construction industry.

3 igorvolseo January 13, 2011 at 5:42 am

This is a good thought, The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement commonly known as the “Labor Commissioner’s Office” is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the state’s minimum labor standards. The minimum labor standards include the payment of the state’s minimum wage, payment of overtime, record keeping requirements, rest and meal period requirements and other conditions of employment.

4 Confined Space Training for Construction August 23, 2011 at 11:08 am

The new confined space training entry standard for the construction industry has been under development for years, last I heard it might come out late this year (2011). I am wondering if it will be similar to the general industry version.

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: