Masonry Magazine November 2001 Page. 19
OSHA/continued from page 17
The data to persons not provided access rights under the rule.
An important clarification for the construction industry found in the new rule is the explanation for multiple establishments. The one-year qualification for a jobsite to be classified as a separate establishment remains. Individual records must be kept at separate establishments. For jobsites open less than one-year, OSHA has provided the following. The log may be kept at a central location if information can be transmitted in a timely manner. Employers have seven days to record new incidents, four hours to get the log to a jobsite should OSHA request it, and the log must be provided to an employee who requests it by the end of the next business day.
Finally the OSHA Summary Logs (200 and 300A), both recordkeeping rules require an annual posting. The OSHA 200 must be posted from February 1 to March 1. The OSHA 300A or equivalent will need to be posted from February 1 to April 30. It must be certified. The certification is a signature by a company executive (owner or senior executive at the establishment).
Remember, the new recordkeeping rule was just released. It does not take effect until January 1, 2002. OSHA published the rule now to give employers time to learn the new requirements and to revise computer systems such as MCAA's CompliancePlus Software. Watch for any changes, which may occur, and the release of the MCAA's CompliancePlus Update. Anyone who has purchased the software within the past year will receive a free update. Continue to use your OSHA 200 Log. In 2002, you will post it as you have previous OSHA 200 Logs from February 1- March 1.
ERGONOMICS
On November 14, 2000, OSHA published a final rule addressing ergonomic programs in general industry. The rule became effective on January 16, 2001. However, under the Congressional Review Act, Congress passed a resolution to disapprove the standard. As of April 23, 2001 the rule was no longer valid.
When Secretary Chao was appointed, she made Ergonomics one of her priorities. On June 7, 2001 the Department of Labor announced that three national public forums on the issue of ergonomics safety would convene. Secretary Chao stated the purpose of the forums was to determine the best approach to reduce ergonomic injuries. Chao said, "Defining the best approach for ergonomic injuries is not a simple process and we need everyone's voice heard in the process... Guiding principles will provide a vital starting point for evaluating the issue and a point from which we can decide a final course of action." The forums were held in Washington, D.C. on July 16, Illinois on July 20, and California on July 24, 2001. OSHA had planned on issuing an action plan in September. Due to the recent tragedy, its release was delayed until later this Fall.
In the meantime, the regulatory agenda still identifies a rule on "Ergonomics Programs in Construction". From the statistics that OSHA has collected, 40,000 lost-time musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur in the construction industry every year. The number of non-lost-time work injuries is believed to be in excess of 200,000. OSHA will continue to collect information for future rulemaking. Their intent was to publish an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to gather information on the construction workers most at risk, feasible methods of reducing this risk, and successful ergonomics programs in construction. The action (more on next page)
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MASONRY NOVEMBER, 2001 19