By Jim Stanley, President, FDRsafety
Big fines make big news as was evident when OSHA recently proposed $16.6 million in penalties in a deadly explosion at a Kleen Energy Systems construction site in Connecticut. But day-in, day-out announcements of OSHA fines may be just as significant because they illustrate the depth of the agency’s enforcement push.
In recent months, OSHA has proposed fines of more than $100,000 in separate cases against 27 companies. These were in addition to a series of citations against U.S. Postal Service facilities around the country with penalties that totaled more than $3.7 million.
These cases are yet another illustration that OSHA is making good on its pledge to substantially increase enforcement. In the last year, OSHA has administratively increased the size of individual penalties, instituted a severe violators enforcement program, and proposed that every company under its jurisdiction be required to have an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) that would meet specific government rules. In addition, legislation pending in Congress would strengthen protection for whistleblowers in OSHA cases among other changes.
Jim Stanley is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. FDRsafety, advises companies on OSHA compliance and provides temporary safety staffing, safety awareness training and industrial hygiene services. Contact FDRsafety at 1-888-755-8010.
Listen to Jim’s audio conference on OSHA Contractor Crackdown: How Employers Can Avoid Violations and Mega-Fines