OSHA Doubles Efforts
After reading the following news release from OSHA, you need to ask yourself two questions. "Is the injury rate at my company going down like other companies" and "Is my facility ready for OSHA to double its efforts?"National News Release: 08-1532-NAT
October 23, 2008
Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on 2007 workplace injury and illness rates
Rate continues to decline significantly and continues at recorded low
WASHINGTON -- The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry declined in 2007 for the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers declined from 4.4 cases per 100 workers in 2006 to 4.2 cases in 2007.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. said, "Today's injury and illness results demonstrate that OSHA's balanced approach to workplace safety encompassing education, training, information sharing, inspection, regulation and aggressive enforcement is achieving significant reductions in workplace injury and illness throughout the country. This report shows that employees are now safer in the workplace than ever before. This success validates our efforts, and we are redoubling this commitment to make workplaces even safer." (emphasis added)
OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, having conducted more than 39,000 inspections in fiscal year 2007 and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last eight years. In fiscal year 2007, OSHA found nearly 89,000 violations of its standards and regulations.
Posted by Wally Steidley on 10/24 at 02:35 PM
