OSHA drops plan that would have hurt SHARP

There has been concern in recent years that OSHA’s support has waned for the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, known as SHARP, which rewards companies with strong safety programs.

But now, Inside OHSA Online reports, the agency is backing away from a plan that critics said would have gutted SHARP.|

According to Inside OSHA Online: “OSHA had proposed — and appeared close to issuing a final rule two years ago — to modify the regulations that provide exemptions for work site inspections if employers are in SHARP, particularly to make it easier for inspectors to go in if there are concerns about “critical” health or safety issues. The rule would also have reduced the deletion period for programmed inspections of SHARP sites. Supporters of the plan said it would help the agency confront pressing workplace concerns like combustible dust, even if the employer takes part in the recognition program.

“Industry quickly protested the rule-making when was unveiled three years ago, saying the changes would effectively gut the voluntary program by removing incentives to participate, and that it demonstrated a heavy-handed approach by OSHA toward voluntary programs. But a source tells Inside OSHA Online that a key factor in OSHA’s decision to abandon the rule was that several state consultation programs were also upset with the federal agency’s plan and had repeatedly lodged their complaints with OSHA officials.”