Random OSHA Inspections Save Employers Money:  A study published May 18 in the prestigious journal Science documents significant benefits to employers that received a random occupational safety and health inspection and to employees of those business.  Employees benefitted from a 9.4% reduction in annual injuries, and the employers benefitted from a 26% reduction in the costs of injuries.  The economists who performed the study were not able to find any negative impact on wages, employment, or firm survival. 

The study matched 409 California business that received random OSHA inspections with similar businesses that did not.  Each business was in a high-injury industry, had at least 10 employees, and had only 1 worksite. 

"This study confirms what many firms have long known:  safety pays," said Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro. 

Significant Changes to OSHA Hazard Communication Standard are Coming:  Businesses that use, transport, and sale hazardous chemicals will be impacted by new hazard communication requirements.  Deadlines for implementing the changes range from December 1, 2013, to June 1, 2016.  Click here for deadline details.

Under the current system, chemical manufacturers may be subject to a variety of different requirements for transporting, exporting, importing or selling their products.  Different countries and different agencies have different protocols that can make compliance difficult.  Many stakeholders and agencies cooperated over a period of several years to develop a globally harmonized system for chemical hazard communication.  It is anticipated that by harmonizing requirements, the new system will result in significant savings to businesses. 

Material safety data sheets (MSDS) are a primary component of the OSHA system for hazard communication.  The new standard will utilize a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) rather than a MSDS.  There will be a standardized format for the SDS to allow users to find important information more quickly. 

For more information about the hazard communication changes, please visit http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html or contact the Iowa OSHA Consultation and Education Bureau at 515-281-7629.