OSHA announced this week a shift in how it will evaluate inspections, recognizing that inspections are not all equal and that more-complex inspections deserve more weight. The complexity of an inspection affects the amount of time, manpower and other resources required by OSHA and this new tiered inspection system will reflect this complexity. Under the new system, “Enforcement Units” will be assigned to an inspection; the simplest inspection will be one unit and the most complex inspection could be as many as nine units. Dr. Michaels believes that this will allow OSHA to focus on “more impactful inspections” rather than the number of inspection completed each year.

The practical implication for employers is that starting October 1, 2015, they can expect to see an increase in the number of complex inspections performed by OSHA.  Specifically, OSHA notes that it will perform more inspections involving musculoskeletal disorders, chemical exposures, workplace violence, and process safety management violations. With a greater focus on these complex safety and health inspections, NOW is the time to review your policies and procedures to ensure that they meet all OSHA requirements.

More details are available here .