OSHA’s Proposed Changes to SHARP Inspections Dropped

On August 8, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it was backing off on a proposed rule that would have increased inspections for employers enrolled in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Employers and consultants had objected to the new rule, saying that it would discourage employers from enrolling. Some safety experts had backed the new rule, saying that current guidelines can allow safety problems to go unrecognized.

The SHARP program allows small and medium-sized business to receive guidance on safety and health related issues from state or university consultants. In return for correcting any hazards and implementing ongoing safety and health management system, companies enrolled in SHARP are exempt from on-site inspections for a period of time, typically 2 years.

The proposed rule change would have limited the exemption to 1 year, and allowed inspections for high-priority issues.

Some groups opposed the change, saying that it would reduce employer participation in SHARP, and it would target inspections on employers who are proactive in working with OSHA.

Other groups supported the change, noting that hazards such as those in the National Emphasis Programs (NEPs) could be unseen due to the SHARP exemptions from inspections.

Ultimately, OSHA decided that combing assistance programs, such as SHARP, with enforcement was the way to industrial safety.

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