The last thing you want to see is your clients facing serious fines, right? They may be nervous about the Site-Specific Targeting Inspection Plan (SST Plan), but we’re here to help. This blog will go over important details of the SST Plan and the potential fines that could be incurred, so you help clients feel prepared—not worried.
In October 2018, OSHA implemented the national SST Plan for general industry (non-construction) workplaces with 20 or more employees.
Currently, employers are subject to SST inspections based on their 2016 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) forms. These forms, essentially, determined which establishments had a high rate of employee days away from work, restricted work or job transfer in the context of their specific industry in 2016. This is referred to as the DART rate. If the DART rate for an organization was high in 2016, they are likely on the current SST Plan inspection list. Note, however, that a random sample of establishments with low DART rates are also included on the list.
A random sampling of employers who did not submit the required 2016 300A forms are also included on the SST Plan inspection list.
The SST Plan does not intend to visit office-only establishments. This means that, for industries without permanent workplaces, inspectors must determine which active worksites are eligible for inspection.
If your clients meet either of these criteria, they should review OSHA’s SST Plan directive to ensure they understand their rights and what to expect from OSHA.
There are some ways to help your clients protect themselves if they are at risk of inspection.
To help clients understand the potential fines that could be incurred and why, let’s take a look at an example of an Ohio manufacturer that is facing $724,380 in fines. This establishment was cited with repeated lockout/tagout violations. Here’s what happened:
It is important for clients to understand the severity of potential fines, so they know how important it is to prepare their establishments for potential inspection.
The SST Program and the potential fines that could be incurred are serious, so ensure clients understand their risk and take proactive steps to make their establishments safer before an inspection happens.