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OSHA Compliance Made Easier
OSHA's new Web site helps expedite concerns or questions facility managers might have.

By John P. Kelly, BOMA International

OSHA was originally created as an arm of the Department of Labor in 1971 to ensure the safety and health of American workers. Today, the agency is credited with having developed sensible regulations and reducing the number of work site fatalities in this country by over 50%. This is a more impressive statistic when one considers there are twice as many people going to work in twice as many places in the U.S. now than in 1971.

With such a broad range of issues, compliance with OSHA's rules and regulations can be difficult. In the past, people who wanted such information had to make a written request and wait weeks for traditional mail delivery. Today, OSHA has a Web site-www.osha.gov-that has sped the pace at which information can be received. The site can be used for health and safety information, regulations, and compliance.

Laws and Regulations

Some people have the perception OSHA is about locating problems for the sake of finding them. In reality, OSHA employees and inspectors are much more concerned with making sure work environments are as safe as they can be for the benefit of the individual employees.

The best way for facility managers to be sure their workplaces are up to code is to keep up with the rule changes taking place in their specific industries. The Laws & Regulations section of the OSHA Web site is where this information can be found. For the public to achieve a clearer understanding of agency rules, OSHA publishes written clarifications or interpretations of standards on its site. This keeps OSHA from answering the same inquiries repeatedly and aids people who need to know the intended meaning behind a rule.

The system allows users to search by a specific standard number or within a given time period. If the question is new, there is information on where to send the question and what can be expected in the process of getting an answer.

Simplified Compliance Assistance

After the specifics of a rule are known, help in compliance may be achieved by using the Compliance Assistance Center. This link on the site leads users into a world of training, checklists, and references which will help facility managers steer clear of Department of Labor inspectors.

For example, the Ergonomics eTool is a simple, online activity that goes step by step through the regulations designed to protect workers who lift heavy objects. It also outlines how to maintain an acceptable work environment through good housekeeping.

Help When Least Expected

Forming a relationship with OSHA can also be serendipitous. For example, in the wake of the recent damage from Hurricane Isabel, OSHA moved information related to the clean up efforts to the top of its priority list, as did a large number of the affected business owners and facility managers. Information was made available on general hazards associated with the clean up efforts. Fact sheets on mold were also released for those concerned about diffusing the problem from flood areas.

OSHA looks to the community it serves for information on emerging topics. A good way to get involved is to sign up for Quick Takes, the bi-weekly e-mail memo produced by OSHA. Sign up is available on OSHA's home page.

What Is On The Horizon

While it may seem like hazardous problems arise in the workplace on a daily basis, keeping abreast of changes in standards and practices does not have to be a full time chore. A good way to see what may be around the corner on the agenda at OSHA is to look at the lawsuits against employers. Mold and indoor air quality issues are clogging dockets all over the country. While OSHA has only issued informational guides on these topics to date, a close eye should be kept on the regulatory process.

It is certain that OSHA will always be a factor in business safety, but what is more important is the facility manager's ability to navigate through the web of rules to find answers that will lead to a safe and successful environment. Learning how to use the tools at hand may turn out to be the best defense.