Electronic recordkeeping rule favorite target of pro-repealers

A study ISHN conducted recently to help us understand safety and health professionals’ perceptions and expectations around change in OSHA-related regulations, as a result of a new political administration in Washington D.C. produced a wealth of information and opinions.

An article posted earlier about whether or not OSHA standards should be repealed showed a division among respondents based mainly on their job functions.

This time around, we’ll drill down deeper into those numbers by exploring which standards are most opposed by people in corporate management, those in safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions or those who fall into the “other” category. We also asked about proposed standards, such as the Injury and Illness Prevention Program and combustible dust.

Among survey respondents who would like at least one of the current OSHA standards repealed, here are the percentages favoring repeal of specific standards:

Electronic recordkeeping and public posting of employer injury/illness records final standard

corporate management – 64%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 71%
other – 40%

Injury and Illness Prevention Program proposal

corporate management – 62%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 58%
other – 26%

The updated hazard communication/GHS final standard

corporate management – 56%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 50%
other – 47%

Occupational exposure to silica final standard

corporate management – 56%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 42%
other – 17%

Personal fall protection in general industry Walking/Working surfaces standard

corporate management – 45%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 29%
other – 5%

Chemical management and permissible exposure limits proposal

corporate management – 42%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 33%
other – 44%

Combustible dust proposal

corporate management – 38%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 45%
other – 28%

Occupational exposure to beryllium final standard

corporate management – 36%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 14%
other – 20%

Confined Space in Construction final standard

corporate management – 31%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 20%
other – 10%;

Whistleblower protection

corporate management – 19%
safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 32%
other – 22%

Comments and criticism

Survey respondents also shared suggestions for OSHA and criticisms of the agency:

I would like to have the fines reduced
Reduce the fines assessed during inspections
Increased fine structure
Ergonomics
Anything older than 5 years needs a review
Do not cite ANSI/NFPA/Etc. proposed 'standards' that are not within the actual 29CFR 1910 standard
Greater emphasis/efforts on assistance rather than citations particularly employers with less than 20 employees
Hearing
I would like to have the width of a parapet considered when the height of the parapet is judged as too short and needing fall protection installed
If an incident occurs that causes an injury, OSHA would only be allowed to assess a fine for that particular cause. If during the inspection they notice other possible infractions, they should note and discuss with employer and not fine
Make recordkeeping similar to that required by workers compensation
Make the maintain and make public studies on all measurement tools they use
MSHA regulations are archaic and their fines/assessments need to be changed
Not allow them to make up requirements just because they feel like it
PM 2.5
Posting of past violations for public access before appeals processed
PSM altered to more manageable based on actual risk
Required copies of programs [no compensation and gives citation development six months to carefully vies the document{s} contents
Respiratory protection as applied to powered (positive pressure) respirators used for eye protection
Retaliation
Review lockout/tagout