If you live in a state that has a state OSHA program, discuss any interactions you may have had with the state OSHA employees.
Journal
If you live in a state that has a state OSHA program, discuss any interactions you may have had with the state OSHA employees. If not, discuss what you perceive to be the pros and cons of a state establishing and maintaining its own OSHA program.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words in length. No references or citations are necessary.
Question 1
In 2017, the Acme Company had 30 individuals with recordable injuries, four individuals with a recordable illness from an occupational exposure, but no fatalities. The company had 400 employees who worked 40-hour weeks with 2 weeks off during the year. Calculate the total injury and illness rate (IR) for the company in 2017 using the following formula: IR = N X 200,000 ÷ T (N = number of injuries illnesses, and fatalities; Y = total hours worked by all employees during the period in question). Discuss how the calculated IR might be used by OSHA in determining programmed inspection schedules and how the company might use the IR to improve safety at the facility.
Your answer must be at least 200 words in length.
Question 2
Present the pros and cons of an employer participating in the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) or the Star Program. Based on the pros and cons, explain why you would or would not recommend participation to an employer where you worked.
Your answer must be at least 200 words in length.
Question 3
Discuss the predicament that a safety professional faces knowing that some OSHA regulations are outdated and may not provide adequate protection for workers. Recommend an approach that you believe would overcome the issue.
Your answer must be at least 200 words in length.
Question 4
Explain your thoughts on OSHA’s use of incorporation by reference and whether you believe it improves safety and health in the workplace. Discuss how you believe standards that are incorporated by reference can be used to improve safety and health at a workplace you know about.
Suggested Reading In order to access the following resources, click the links below. OSHA uses the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) to help improve the safety and health of workers in the United States. The following link provides a summary of comments made by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) to OSHA about recommended improvements to the Voluntary Protection Program. ASSE comments on VPP direction, sustainability. (2017). Professional Safety, 62(12), 8. Retrieved from https://search-proquestcom.libraryresources.columb…
You were introduced to the incorporation by reference concept this week. The following article discusses that concept with some secrets revealed about the process and some recommendations for using the standards in your job. Coble, D. F. (2018). Standards incorporated by reference: Little-known secrets. Professional Safety, 63(5), 50–56. Retrieved from https://search-proquestcom.libraryresources.columb…
The unit lesson mentioned that OSHA has a difficult time developing new regulations and amending existing regulations. The following article reviews some of the reasons the process takes so long. Maddux, J. (2016). OSHA standards: Why do they take so long? Professional Safety, 61(5), 43–45. Retrieved from https://search-proquestcom.libraryresources.columb…
In this unit, we also read about how OSHA uses total injury and illness incidence rates to prioritize planned inspections. The following article reviews how one safety professional approached lowering the incidence rate at a facility that a rate that was higher than their industry average. Ndana, J. (2017). Turning around a problem plant: 9 ways to change from severe violator to safety model. Professional Safety, 62(8). 46–54. Retrieved from https://search-proquestcom.libraryresources.columb…
MOS 5101, Safety and Accident Prevention 5 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Learning Activities (Nongraded) Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. OSHA has incorporated many standards developed by outside agencies. Click the link below, and review a current list of standards that have been incorporated by reference. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Incorporation by reference [Standard No. 1910.6]. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_docu…
Choose five standards from the list that you believe apply directly to your current workplace. Does your current employer incorporate the requirements of these standards into your current safety program? What do you believe you would need to improve to meet the requirements of the five standards you chose?