With all the possible OSHA violations and potential fines, ensuring OSHA compliance within your company can seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be.
Start with Recordkeeping
Do you have an employee who is responsible for recording all cases of injury or illness? If you don’t, this is a good place to start on your road to OSHA compliance.
Generally, human resources departments are responsible for OSHA compliance, but sometimes this is the safety manager’s responsibility; every company is different. Either way, someone should be responsible for OSHA compliance as keeping up with new and changing safety regulations can help you avoid accidents and complaints. This individual is also responsible for maintaining and electronically reporting the OSHA 300 log on the OSHA recording website. Not reporting electronically could result in a citation.
Benefits of OSHA Compliance
Complying with OSHA standards can reduce your workers’ compensation costs by helping you eliminate unsafe workplace conditions and making your company a safer place to work.
Compliance also means you are more likely to avoid inspections from an OSHA compliance officer. OSHA regulations state that OSHA can inspect your workplace without notice. Businesses with complaints filed against them have a higher chance of inspection, so your chances are greatly diminished if you’re complaint-free.
In the same vein, OSHA compliance can help you avoid costly fines since you have inspected your workplace and corrected any violations or unsafe conditions. If your workplace is compliant, you are less likely to receive complaints, inspections and any subsequent fines.
OSHA Standards Related to Equipment
It’s a good idea to know what equipment you have in service and what corresponding OSHA standards apply. Acceptable guarding, kill switches, personal protective equipment and training are examples of standards that would apply to the most basic machines. Material handling equipment (overhead cranes, forklifts etc.), electrical service and components, lighting, and welding/cutting are components of operations that have associated written/published standards. Become familiar with these so you are aware of the exposure and can ensure compliance.
Tools You Can Use to Be Ready for OSHA
You should always be ready for OSHA inspections, and tools like an online OSHA log can help you be prepared. Tracking injuries and incidents in an online OSHA log keeps all the information you need in one place and can easily be printed to share with employees, carrier loss control representatives or OSHA inspectors when they visit. Plus, by storing all your incident information in an online log, you can easily analyze it to spot trends, benchmark against national data and isolate potential problem areas based on division, time period or injury type.
We're Here to Help
OSHA compliance can help you reduce your workers’ compensation costs, avoid inspections and eliminate costly fines. It also makes your workplace safer for your employees. If you have any questions or would like more information about how CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc. can help with OSHA compliance, connect with a member of our team.