Some of the Latest Foibles

Every couple of weeks, Federal OSHA puts out a newsletter    

( http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/quicktakes/subscribe.html.  It’s free!).  It shows what good stuff is happening in the world of employee safety.  Included are the duds they have investigated.  Some are outrageous (repeat, serious violations).  Others are tragic (preventable injuries and deaths).  Also included are the State Plan enforcement cases.  California has one of these, called CalOSHA.

What are the odds of getting a visit from CalOSHA?  Almost zero.  What if somebody complains?  You will get a letter from CalOSHA, asking for your explanation and steps you will take to correct the reported deficiency.  What if there is a reportable injury?  They will be at your doorstep. 

You can have a company of only five employees or one with a battalion’s-worth of personnel.  Should they visit you, the first thing CalOSHA will ask for will be your INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM (IIPP 8CCR3203) documents.  From a simple back strain in the office to a mangled hand in a metals shop, a reportable and recordable injury requires a business to have an IIPP.  This is the plan one has to develop, explain and train the company’s safety program.  It can be a simple, ten-page jobby for an insurance office (Hey! What about ergonomics injuries?!) to a binder-full program for a multifaceted, agricultural business.  The IIPP MUST meet and fit your business’ needs.  A generic IIPP, downloaded off the internet, will only attract the ire of a CalOSHA inspector. A stunt like that indicates there is little interest in the safety of your employees.  And, the fines start at $750. 

On the latest list are:

Large, Package Delivery Company ($73,000)

·         3203(a)(4):  Hazards Inspections

·         3272(c), (e):  Blocked access

·         3380(f):  Personal Protective Equipment

·         3650(t):  Fork lift violations

Pasta Manufacturer ($86,000)

·         3314:  Lock Out/Tag Out

Plumbing Contractor ($91,000)

·         1509:  Accident Prevention Training (Construction)

·         1512(b), (c):  First Aid Training, First Aid Kit Contents

·         1541:  Excavation Safety

·         3395:  Heat Stress Safety

Agri-Business Consultants ($42,00)

·         3210(b):  Fall Protection, Aircraft

·         3273(c):  Elevated Platforms

·         3395:  Heat Stress Safety

·         3650(l):  Fork lift violations

Construction Contractor ($81,000)

·         3668:  Fork Lift Training

Should you have any questions regarding your IIPP (or lack thereof), please feel free to contact us for more information.