December 22, 2004—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) just released its annual enforcement statistics, which show that the agency exceeded its inspection goal for FY 2004. OSHA completed 39,167 total inspections, including more than 300 under the new Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP), which focuses on employers who repeatedly ignore their safety and health obligations. OSHA also completed nearly 3,000 inspections within industries identified with high injury and illness rates, reportedly indicating a more accurate targeting system.
OSHA Administrator John Henshaw said the agency cited 86,708 violations of OSHA standards and regulations during FY 04, an increase of 3.8 percent over the previous year and nearly 10 percent over the last five years. Of particular significance was the increase in serious and willful violations issued during FY 04 (three and 14 percent, respectively, over FY 03). Henshaw said the increases demonstrate that OSHA is targeting the right workplaces for inspections by accurately identifying employers who repeatedly or willfully violate the law.
Henshaw also noted that injury and illness rates continue to decline and that fatality rates held their downward trend—over the past five years, the rate has decreased 11 percent. Henshaw affirmed that OSHA’s balanced approach to workplace safety and health includes strong, fair, and effective enforcement programs. He added, “This approach is validated by the fact that workplace injury, illness, and fatality rates are at their lowest levels ever, even as the workforce continues to expand.”
