The final list was culled using data from what OSHA calls the DART (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred) and DAFWII (Days Away from Work Injury and Illness) rates. Though the list of 3,700 has not been made public, businesses can determine if they're on the list using these benchmarks:

• Manufacturing establishments with a DART rate greater than or equal to 7.0, or a DAFWII rate greater than or equal to 5.0, are primary inspection sites. There are approximately 3,000 manufacturing primary inspection sites.
• Non-manufacturing establishments (except for Nursing and Personal Care Facilities) with a DART rate greater than or equal to 15.0, or a DAFWII rate greater than or equal to 14.0, are primary inspection sites. There are approximately 400 non-manufacturing primary inspection sites.
• Nursing and personal care facilities with a DART rate greater than or equal to 16.0, or a DAFWII case rate greater than or equal to 13.0, are primary inspection sites. There are approximately 300 nursing and personal care facility primary inspection sites.

Once OSHA finishes inspecting the 3,700 primary sites, it could well begin inspecting others on the initial list of 14,600.

OSHA has made no official announcement about the computer-generated letters, but it is expected that they will be used in the agency’s ongoing Site Specific Targeting (SST) Program, under which 4,500 companies are to be inspected this year.

If you’ve received such a letter, it’s a good time to review not only your record-keeping (which will be examined if you’re inspected) but also your companywide safety policies and procedures.

A good resource for catching up on all your OSHA regulatory requirements is Personnel Concepts’ OSHA Answer Book. Get yours today.