OSHA is initiating the Site-Specific Targeting 2016 (SST-16) Program targeting high injury and illness rates using injury and illness information electronically submitted by employers under 29CFR1904.41 for calendar year 2016. The program targets for inspection high injury rate establishments in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors (construction worksites are not included at this time). By applying industry and establishment-size criteria, OSHA will focus data collection towards establishments that are most likely to be experiencing elevated rates and numbers of occupational injuries and illnesses. The SST-16 Program selects individual establishments for inspection based on their submission of Form 300A data. For the 2016 calendar year, employers were required by OSHA to electronically submit the data by December 15, 2017. The deadline for calendar year 2017 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 20-249 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.
States with OSHA-approved State Plans are required to have their own inspection system in place for targeting high injury and illness rates. They must notify OSHA whether they intend to adopt policies and procedures identical to the federal program or adopt or maintain different policies and procedures for targeting of general industry inspections. These inspection policies and procedures must be at least as effective as Federal OSHA’s and must be available for review. Additionally, the inspection targeting system must be documented in their State Plan and revised as necessary to reflect current practices.
Related article: OSHA Moving Forward with Electronic Submission of Injury and Illness Records – For Now. Click here to read more.
OSHA Moving Forward with Electronic Submission of Injury and Illness Records – For Now