All it takes is one workplace safety or employee health violation to severely hinder a business’s financial standing.
With OSHA’s near-80 percent fine increase going into effect August 1, and its more rigorous inspections process, it could be even more crippling to try to stay up to code. Until very recently, a serious OSHA violation penalty stood at $7,000.
New rules now in effect have increased the fine to $12,600. When it comes to willful and repeat violations, penalties have gone up from $70,000 to $126,000 per violation. For small or medium sized business, it could spell the end.
However, there are a few steps that any company can take to avoid compliance slipups, and ensure costly and damaging fines are avoided. By following these three simple guidelines, decision makers and employees can keep their teams on course to OSHA compliance success.
Empower Employees
Develop a culture where employees are encouraged to speak up, without fear of retribution, about potential safety hazards and concerns. For example, employees in health, safety or construction, are often the ones in the field and on the ground, and may see things management doesn’t. By providing a way for staff to anonymously report potentially hazardous situations, employers can take the necessary actions to resolve the issue. Designate an employee or employees to conduct regular safety checks, and implement training programs so that everyone is on the same page. Provide your in-house safety inspector with a record-keeping system like a mobile form for real-time accountability, and to ensure that safety is monitored constantly, and hazards are being flagged up the chain.
EHS Today is an IndustryWeek companion site within Penton's Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.
