OSHA has proposed a rule that would revise the circumstances in which the agency may conduct inspections of sites participating in its On-Site Consultation Program Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program ( SHARP).
The proposed rule, published in the Sept. 3 Federal Register, affects employers in OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, which recognizes small businesses with “exemplary safety and health management systems.”
The proposed rule:
· Clarifies OSHA’s ability to define sites to receive inspections regardless of SHARP exemption status
· Allows compliance officers to conduct enforcement visits from referrals at sites undergoing consultation visits or that have SHARP status
· Limits how long SHARP participants are exempt from OSHA’s programmed inspection schedule
Comments on the proposed rule are due Nov. 2.
If you are a member of the IAMAW and your Company is participating in the SHARP, please contact Joe Abshire at the IAM Safety and Health Department at 301-967-4707.