OSHA Can’t Always Tell You…Though It Wishes It Could
Small and Medium Sized Companies Are Kept in the Dark When OSHA Rules Change
When OSHA changed a hazard communications standard in 2013 it did not notify American companies and workers, which placed them at risk of being in violation of one of the most frequently violated, and costly, occupational health and safety standards. Not because OSHA didn’t want anyone to know but because it has no method to inform companies that don’t know about OSHA’s communication methods because, ironically, OSHA has no way of letting them know that there ARE ways for OSHA to communicate with them.
In other words: you may never know what you don’t know.
OSHA created a new construction standard in 2015 that could keep thousands of workers safer on the job, and didn’t let businesses know, either.
Not long ago, OSHA changed a crystalline silica standard for general industry and construction that it claims will save more lives and prevent even more permanent and debilitating respiratory illnesses. Small and medium size companies weren’t told about that, either.
Where does that leave business owners and their employees and families? Pretty much in the dark. Until OSHA finds them in violation, of course.
Now, to be fair, industry groups inform their members of OSHA programs and standards. There are also several workplace safety publications that do that as well. But if a company isn’t a member of one of those industry groups (it can be expensive) or doesn’t know about those publications, it will remain in the dark.
And, of course, if a company can’t afford to have a safety professional on staff (also a costly proposition) it won’t have anyone on staff who has the inside track on workplace safety developments and requirements.
Companies and their employees need to be made aware that OSHA cannot inform them individually of important safety policies that could impact the health and safety of the employees and their families and the welfare of the companies.
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Ed Maurer