In a letter written by David Michaels, head of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Michaels informs his employees about how they will improve the safety of US Businesses.  Michaels states, that after 40 years, OSHA needs a fundamental transformation in the way they address workplace hazards, and relationships to employers and workers. Michaels reminds his employees about the mission of OSHA, put most simply, is to protect workers from death, injury and illness.  There are 9 key areas is which OSHA is going to improve their processes in order to make US Businesses more safe.   

How will these changes affect your Business????

1. More Inspections and Larger Fines.
Because OSHA has received a larger budget they have been able to hire more inspectors.   Also, the agency is shifting personnel away from its cooperative programs and toward enforcement. OSHA has announced that, under the leadership of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs, two significant policy changes: an alteration in the way penalties are calculated that will result in increased employer fines, and the new Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

2. Interviewing More Employees
OSHA is committed to ensuring that all workers have a voice. To do this, they
will direct resources and effort to reach out to the most vulnerable and hard to reach
workers, including immigrants and non-English speakers, especially those employed in
high hazard industries. They will focus on training workers and their
representatives on hazards, worker rights and how to request an OSHA inspection

3. Refocus and Strengthen Assistance Programs
OSHA commits that all inspectors are required to check whether required training is conducted in a language that workers can understand.  They will make all training materials available on the web.  If  employers and workers do not have access to the information and tools they need to ensure safe workplaces or to develop and implement injury and illness prevention programs, OSHA will encourage the development and dissemination of tools, information and best practices that enable workers to understand the workplace hazards they face and how to use their rights to protect themselves, as well as enable employers to provide safe workplaces.