The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an updated National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Amputations.
The NEP has been in existence since 2006 and is targeted at industries with high numbers and rates of amputations. In this updated NEP, OSHA is using current enforcement data and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) injury data to assist with site selection targeting, the same methodology used in the prior NEP.
According to the most recent BLS data, manufacturing employers reported that 2,000 workers suffered amputations in 2013. The rate of amputations in the manufacturing sector was more than twice as much (1.7 per 10,000 full-time employees) as that of all private industry (0.7). These serious injuries are preventable by following basic safety precautions.
The NEP includes a list of industries with high numbers and rates of amputations as reported to BLS.
“Workers injured from unguarded machinery and equipment can suffer permanent disability or lose their lives,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels. “This directive will help ensure that employers identify and eliminate serious workplace hazards and provide safe workplaces for all workers.”
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