Even with OSHA’s Staff Reductions, It Is Still Important to Implement Passive Fall Protection in Your Facility

The right time to relax your approach to safety and OSHA compliance is NEVER. Yet OSHA’s recent staffing woes could potentially cause safety managers to relax their fall protection efforts if they mistakenly assume that their facility is less likely to be inspected. Unfortunately, this misguided assumption could ultimately lead to employee injury or harsh penalties imposed when a “surprise” OSHA inspection occurs. Below is a look at the reasons why it is important to focus on fall safety in your facility and the best ways to implement passive fall protection.

How has OSHA staffing recently changed?

The total number of OSHA inspectors has declined by four percent since 2017, resulting in the lowest number of inspectors in OSHA’s history. While four percent may not sound like a significant decrease, the decline is compelling when you consider that OSHA’s job is to safeguard the safety of workers in over 8 million places of employment.

Why should you be more focused on fall protection than ever?

As a business owner or safety manager, it is important not to interpret OSHA’s staff reductions as a license to adopt a more relaxed approach to fall protection. In fact, you should always strive to heighten your attention to safety and compliance. Here are four reasons why you should be more focused on fall protection than ever:

1) OSHA’s budget recently increased

After several years of budget stagnancy, OSHA’s budget increased significantly between 2018 and 2019. According to the United States Department of Labor, OSHA’s 2019 budget rose to $557,787,000. This represents an increase of $5 million from 2018, when OSHA operated under a budget of $552.8 million. This budget increase will aid both state and federal compliance efforts while also enhancing the operating budget for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

2) Many states have their own OSHA-approved workplace safety programs

“With our state partners we have approximately 2,100 inspectors responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers, employed at more than 8 million worksites around the nation — which translates to about one compliance officer for every 59,000 workers. Federal OSHA has 10 regional offices and 85 local area offices.”

– OSHA Data and Statistics

With hundreds of state-based partners, OSHA has a strong local presence. With a total of 28 State Plans that exist to prevent work-related injuries, State Plans “must be at least as effective as OSHA in protecting workers and in preventing work-related injuries.”

3) Business owners are ultimately responsible for workplace safety

OSHA’s staffing issues do not change the fact that business owners are responsible for providing a safe work environment. According to OSHA, employers have a responsibility to “Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSH Act.” They are also required to “Examine workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable OSHA standards.” The notion that an OSHA inspection is less likely to occur does not erase this responsibility.

4) OSHA is strongly committed to enforcement efforts

“OSHA insists that its enforcement efforts have remained vigorous, even with fewer inspectors on the job.”

– Suzy Khimm, NBC News

Despite its reduced staff, OSHA actually managed to increase the total number of inspections performed at various points over the past few years, illustrating their strong commitment to enforcement efforts. Construction sites, manufacturing plants, and other businesses with above average rates of falls and other accidents are particularly likely to be prioritized by OSHA as a high-risk workplace that warrants an inspection.

How can employers implement passive fall protection? 

Establishing an effective passive fall protection system is one of the best ways to ensure safety and compliance with OSHA regulations. Some of the keys to developing an effective system are as follows:

1) Identify the key areas of your facility that warrant attention

Your path to fall protection begins with a comprehensive walk-through of your facility to identify areas that require fall protection. In general, areas to pay close attention to include the following:

• Mezzanines
• Loading docks
• Stairways
• Construction areas

2) Increase your focus on loading dock safety

Of the areas mentioned above, loading docks are the most dangerous. 25% of all reported warehouse injuries occur on loading docks, in addition to hundreds of close calls. Some of the most common causes of loading dock injuries include employee falls from loading docks and injuries sustained when forklifts inadvertently back off a loading dock platform and fall on employees. Emphasizing loading dock safety throughout the employee training process is also important.

3) Install guard rails and industrial swing gates

When properly positioned and installed, heavy duty swing gates and guard rails serve as an outstanding means of passive fall protection. But installing guard rails and safety gates alone is not necessarily enough to guarantee a successful OSHA inspection. Educating employees about the purpose and use of industrial swing gates and guard rails is essential to ensuring compliance with safety procedures.

4) Build a culture of compliance

Establishing a work culture that values and recognizes employee commitment to safety and compliance is one of the most effective ways to safeguard against falls. Building a mindset of compliance should start as early as possible in an employee’s career. Additionally, management should frequently reemphasize the importance of fall prevention in the workplace during ongoing training exercises and safety-related activities.

The Bottom Line

While the total number of OSHA inspectors has declined over the years, OSHA’s budget and total number of annual inspections is on the rise. Passive fall protection, along with other fall safety equipment, should continue to be a top priority, especially for high-risk industries such as construction and manufacturing. Fortunately, safety managers can minimize these risks by maintaining a strong focus on loading dock safety, installing industrial swing gates, and building a culture of safety and compliance. In addition to protecting employees, these measures will reduce the likelihood of OSHA violations at your facility.