New OSHA enforcement is coming, says NDA

The NDA is advising members of changes to OSHA enforcement starting next month. (Image: NDA)

The guidance is designed to deter employers who fail to comply with certain workplace safety and health requirements.

As a result, OSHA regional administrators and area office directors now have the authority to cite certain types of violations as “instance-by-instance citations” for cases where the agency identifies “high-gravity” serious violations of OSHA standards specific to certain conditions where the language of the rule supports a citation for each instance of non-compliance.

The new guidance covers enforcement activity in the general industry, agriculture, maritime and construction industries, and becomes effective on 26 March. The current policy has been in place since 1990 and applies only to “egregious wilful citations“.

In a second action, OSHA reminded regional administrators and area directors of their authority not to group violations, and instead cite them separately to more effectively encourage employers to comply with the intent of the OSH Act.

Meanwhile, the NDA has also reminded members that they must electronically submit Form 300A data on workplace injury and illnesses to OSHA through the Injury Tracking Application by Thursday 2 March.