With a number of major changes, OSHA has made this quite a year for employers—and especially for contractors. Consequently, it’s important to take a look back at 2016 in order to plan for 2017.

OSHA Changes in 2016

• OSHA published the Final Rule for the Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica, which reduced the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift. (Though the rule is in effect now, full compliance for the construction industry begins June 23, 2017.)
• OSHA issued its final rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses, adding electronic reporting requirements to records that employers already keep. This rule takes effect Jan. 1, 2017.
• OSHA increased its penalty schedule for the first time in a quarter century, establishing a yearly increase based on the Consumer Price Index.
• OSHA’s new anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation rule will went into effect in August, allowing compliance officers to issue citations for retaliation.

What This Means for 2017

As a result of these changes, worker safety and compliance become greater priorities than ever before.

Therefore, employers need to ensure

• they have policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of their team
• their workers have adequate personal protective equipment
• temporary and permanent workers receive adequate safety training
• they have everything in place to document and/ or measure everything that OSHA requires.

Wishing you a safe and prosperous New Year!

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