Emphasis programs

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 2007. Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. CPL 03-00-006. www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show document p table=DIRECTIVES p id=3729 (accessed April 14, 2008). 

One of the consequences of the Texas City explosion that occurred in 2005 is that OSHA came under criticism for not conducting inspections of refineries thoroughly enough or frequently enough. In response to this criticism, OSHA has implemented a National Emphasis Program (NEP) for refineries. The agency has since expanded this program to cover chemical plants. 

High-Emphasis Hazards are targeted, which include fall hazards and specific hazards identified from selected National Emphasis Programs. 

B. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-136, National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Shipbreaking, March 16, 2005. 

D. OSHA Instruction CPL 03-00-003—National Emphasis Program on Amputations, October 27, 2006. 

E. OSHA Instruction CPL 03-00-010—Petroleum Refinery Process Safety Management National Emphasis Program, August 18,2009. 

F. OSHA Instruction CPL 03-00-007—National Emphasis Program— Crystalline Silica, January 24, 2008. 

I. OSHA Instruction 09-06 (CPL 02)—PSM Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program, July 27, 2009. 

A. High-Emphasis Hazards are targeted and include fall hazards and hazards identified from the following National Emphasis Programs (NEPs) amputations, combnstible dnst, crystalline silica, excavation/trenching, lead, and shipbreaking. See section XII. (p. 5). 

Example 2 A CSHO conducts a Local Emphasis Program inspection for Residential Construction. While on-site, the CSHO observes employees working in an unsupported trench and cites the employer for two high gravity willful violations of 29 CFR 1926.651. The inspection has met the Non-Fatality/Catastrophe Criterion Related to High-Emphasis Hazards and the case is subject to the SVEP. 

Example 3 A CSHO conducts a National Emphasis Program inspection for Shipbreaking. While on-site, the CSHO observes a piece of scrap metal from the dismantled vessel being lifted with a crane over top of an... 

F. Amputation hazards specified below that are covered nnder the National Emphasis Program on Amputations. (See CPL03-00-003) ... 

G. Combustible dust hazards specified below that are covered by the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (Reissued), including the General Duty Clause (Sec. 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act). (See CPE 03-00-008) ... 

H. Crystalline silica hazards specified below that are covered by the National Emphasis Program—Crystalline Silica (See CPL 03-00-007) ... 

Petroleum refinery hazards are those hazards that are covered by the Petroleum Refinery Process Safety Management National Emphasis Program (See CPL 03-00-004) and hazards dne to the potential release of a highly hazardous chemical as covered by the PSM Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program See Instrnction 09-06 (CPL 02) ... 

Some establishments selected for inspection under the SVEP may also fall under one or more other OSHA initiatives such as Site-Specific Targeting (SST) or Local Emphasis Programs (LEP). Inspections under these programs may be conducted either separately or concurrently with inspections under this Instruction. 

OSHA initiated a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program on October 18, 2007. 

OSHA is initiating this National Emphasis Program (NEP) to address the deflagration, other fire, and explosion hazards that may exist at facilities handling combustible dust. A combustible dust hazard study conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) found that nearly 280 dust fires and explosions have occurred in U.S. industrial facilities over the past 25 years, resulting in 119 fatalities and over 700 injuries. 

Combustible dust is not defined, as sufficient grudance on combustible dust OSHA is provided through existing documents, including the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program Directive CPL 03-00-008. 

In the fall of 1996, the U.S. Department of Labor, jointly with the American Lung Association, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Department of He th and Human Services (DHHS), launched the silicosis prevention effort. In 2008 OSHA announced a new enforcement program (National Emphasis Program — Crystalline Silica, CPL 03-00-007) to target worksites where employees are at risk for developing silicosis. 

GPL 03-00-007, National Emphasis Program — Crystalline Sihca, Januaiy 24, 2008. 

National Emphasis Program.Occupational Health — Silicosis... 

Why is this significant The concept teaches engineers the primary responsibility they have in design as stated in codes of ethics. One impetus resulted from the 2007 National Instimte for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) workshop on Prevention through Design. NIOSH now refers to this emphasis program with an acronym, PtD. ... 

OSHA has initiated Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs) in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi with the goal of reducing fatalities and serious injuries related to powered industrial trucks. Inspections conducted under these LEPs will primarily focus on operator training, maintenance and repair, and the pathways the trucks travel to ensure clear visibility and determine any possible struck-by hazards. The LEPs, which began May 29, will continue until Sept. 30,2012, unless extended. 

To address a unique issue or a specific problem, the use of special emphasis programs is an appropriate motivational tool. These programs define a problem or issue, use symbolism (drawings or slogans) to elicit or trigger an appropriate response, indicate a true interest in the special area of emphasis, and use a structured approach to address the special issue. It is used to cause focused attention on a specific area. An example would be a special emphasis program on back injury prevention. 

An example of a special emphasis program is a ladder safety program. A ladder safety program will be utilized as an example to illustrate how this might be done. 

The first step is to develop a policy that will be signed by top management regarding the commitment to the special emphasis program on ladder safety. 

---