Industrial Hygiene
Briefly outline and discuss the process OSHA uses for a workplace inspection from the beginning to the end of the site visit.
PROCESS USED FOR A WORKPLACE INSPECTION BY OSHA
Plog and Quinlan’s (2012) presented following seven steps involved in a workplace inspection:
This is the step in which an officer checks for background information of workplace, inspection history, standards and type of business.
The compliance officer verifies his credentials to the employer representatives before the inspection.
The officer presents an outline of his inspection in the opening conference; Later conducts OSHA consultant visit in which he is supposed to tell employers about the purpose of visit, while explaining the safety health standards. Employer provides the officer a representative to accompany him throughout the process. A flow diagram of all system operations is then submitted by the representative.
The officer studies an in-depth research on the employer’s work record, routines and patterns.
Without making interruptions, the officer communicates with other employees, conducts inspection by walking through the data files, people, samples and work history.
An evaluation for health system and occupational safety is conducted through monitoring, medical examinations; record program evaluation and engineering control check administrative control of personal hygiene and other practices are also done. The personal protective program and regulated areas are checked in order to evaluate emergency action plan.
The officer conducts a closing conference with representative employer in which the officer will provide the inspection results, discuss health conditions, drawbacks with relevant proves and inspection process documentations. The officer will not state any penalty but presents the appeal right of employer.
Identify and discuss each of the steps that OSHA must go through as part of the rule making process.
RULE MAKING PROCESS
Making the Decision through Preliminary Rulemaking Activities:
The process starts with identifying the hazard, followed by analysis research to determine the scope of problem. Then the officer arranges a meeting with stake holders after which regulatory actions on Unified Agenda are listed Public rulemaking docket is established which later ends on the development and publication of RFI or ANPR (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
Developing the Proposed Rule:
OSHA develops health effect analysis to develop and assess preliminary risks, technology, regulatory flexibility analysis etc. OSHA initiates federalism and unfunded mandate analysis for governments. Before talking to stakeholders, OSHA prepares preliminary information collection analysis; consult ACCSH, MACOSH to conduct review process by SBREFA. After getting agency clearances, the analysis is submitted to OMB (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
Publishing the Proposed Rule:
After receiving the approval of publication, plans are made. They are submitted to Federal Registrar with preliminary Information Collection Request. In the end it is sent to SBA (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
Developing and Analyzing Rulemaking record:
Research collects public comments through public hearings; those comments are reviewed for presentation which ends on summary and analysis (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
Developing the final rule:
OSHA analyses health effects; finalize risk assessment, technological feasibility and regulatory flexibility analysis. A draft is made on regulatory text. An analysis is done to determine its impact on tribal government before obtaining departmental and agency clearances. The step ends on a rollout materials and information collection analysis (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
Publishing the Final Rule:
In this step hygienist gets approval, submit the final rule to federal register of OMB, SBA and to GAO and Congress (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
Post-Promulgation Activities:
These activities stay for 4-12 months, in which OSHA publishes guidelines and other compliance material. They respond to any necessary legal action (“Rulemaking process, 2012).
References
Plog, B. A., & Quinlan, P. J. (2012). Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (6th ed.).
The OSHA Inspection: A Step-by-Step Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy10/sh-20853-10/osha_inspections.pdf
The OSHA Rulemaking Process. (2012, October 15). Retrieved March 11, 2016, from https://www.osha.gov/OSHA_FlowChart.pdf
