OSHA seeks employers' input to craft future activities

Up to 19,000 private employers are getting surveys about their safety and health practices. OSHA says voluntary participation in the Baseline Survey of Safety and Health Practices will help the agency design future rules, compliance assistance, and outreach efforts.

Companies of all sizes and across all industries are being randomly selected for the survey. The results will be tabulated by Eastern Research Group, and the information will be anonymous.

A cover letter provided with the questionnaire includes a unique password for each employer to access the web-based survey. It says the questions are structured so respondents may skip over those that are unnecessary.

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Among the information sought is:

The person responsible for employee safety and health at the establishment. A list of answers is provided with instructions to check all that apply.
The types of hazards present in the workplace.
Whether exposure monitoring for employees exposed to toxic substances or noise is performed.
If safety training is provided and, if so, how often.
The company's approach to correcting hazards.
Why a company adopted a safety and health management system or program. Answers include compliance with a state regulation, to be eligible for lower workers' comp premiums, to contain expenses, to gain public recognition, as part of a need to integrate into overall management and production, to help manage a multi-establishment corporation, or to keep employees safer and healthier.

The data collection phase is expected to be completed by August.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

June 16, 2011

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