Employers with High injury and Illness Rates Get a Letter from Dr. Michaels
From OSHA QuickTakes –
To help employers understand and improve their injury and illness rates, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels sent letters to approximately 14,900 workplaces with high rates of days away from work, restricted work or job transfer in 2010. For each 100 full-time workers, these employers had 2 or more injuries or illnesses that resulted in days away from work, restricted work or job transfer. The national average is 1.8.
Dr. Michael’s letter encourages employers to develop their own safety and health plans to better protect workers. An excellent way for employers with 250 or fewer workers to address safety and health is to ask for assistance from OSHA’s Free On-Site Consultation Program. OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing safety and health management systems. For more information, read the full letter here.