Speaking as one of the keynoters at the National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo in Philadelphia today, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) chief David Michaels spent a lot of time defending OSHA regulations as not being "job-killers" and then admitted that the one proposed OSHA regulation drawing the most flak—the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (dubbed I2P2)—is still a long ways off.
Michaels said the next step in I2P2 process is the issuance of an injury and illness prevention white paper. He also said the I2P2 program instituted by the Department of Defense (DOD) has been effective in cutting injury and illness rates in the armed services.
On the topic of the new Hazard Communication Standard (HAZCOM) incorporating the Globally Harmonized System of Classifying and Labeling Chemicals (GHS), he said that he expects easy approval of the final rule by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Personnel Concepts has been following both developments—I2P2 and HAZCOM/GHS—and incorporated the latest OSHA guidance and regulations into its best-selling manuals. Our Injury and Illness Prevention Program will keep your company safe, healthy and up to date on OSHA standards. Likewise, our Hazard Communication Program has already been updated to reflect the inclusion of the GHS and its standards and obligations. Get both today.