New OSHA System Could Lead to More Construction Site Inspections

A new OSHA weighting system for workplace safety and health inspections went into effect on October 1. The new system adds enforcement initiatives such as site-specific targeting to the weighting of an incident. It was designed to better recognize factors such as types of hazards inspected and abated, and effective targeting.

The new weighting system will help OSHA employees better allocate resources and focus on critical and strategic areas having the greatest impact on worker health and safety, the agency says. The policy is expected to place greater emphasis on the “Fatal Four”— falls, caught-in-or-between, struck-by, and electrocution accidents. These are the major causes of death for workers in the construction industry, accounting for nearly 60% of jobsite deaths.

It’s possible that renewed emphasis on these issues will result in more inspections.

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