Just had an OSHA inspection. We fired an employee, with cause (failure to show up to work!) His unemployment was denied and he was pissed. Of course the inspector said that wasn't the reason for the inspection, coincidence!
List of things we are sighted for: drill press with out guard around bit. A 4x4 electrical box on a power cord, the SawStop table saw had the splitter in place but not the blade guard covering the blade. He wouldn't accept the technology as being a substitute. Our safety committee record had some time frames that were further apart for meetings than allowed. Our employee manual has some things out of order and looking a bit worn but he didn't site us on that.
He will be back Feb 1 to see that we have corrected everything and determine what the penalties will be.
What kind of guards to you have on a drill press spindle that meet OSHA?

The guard needs to be in such a way to prevent the employee from putting their fingers into the spinning bit as it comes down.

Grainger has one in their catalog. Am sure that there are others out there in the marketplace.

Some years ago a fella ran out the door screaming he was gonna call osha. so I called them, found out two things, 1) they do not listen to disgruntled employees and 2) by calling them I became a voluntary request and with a scheduled inspection they would not fine me as long as I cleared up any violations.

it was not Voodoo and in the last 20 years I have been inspected several times. because I chose voluntary sometimes the inspections are scheduled.

We made a small U shaped box out of 1/2" ply painted it red and tied a string to it and the drill press when not in use just slip the little box around the bit, this satisfied our inspector. same for the band saw etc.

How does putting a box around the bit when it is not in use do any good? Our inspector said we had to have a guard so clothing could not get caught in the spinning bit.
We've got 12 saws of various types in the shop. The only one he had a problem with is the safest one. The SawStop!

We had an L& I inspector in our building ask whether or not the drill press moved from place to place or whether it was stationary.
I didn't know how to answer so I said it moved.

Turns out that was the right answer.
If it was stationary I would have been cited because it was not hard wired.

Everything in our shop now moves around.

"We've got 12 saws of various types in the shop. The only one he had a problem with is the safest one. The SawStop! "

And you object to that?

You should be thankful that we have the department of compliance, "to help us"

I just talked to a lady that works for a commercial cabinet shop,she said they got a visit from OSHA shortly after they fired an employee. That visit is going to cost them about 50-60k dollars.They have to get a dust collection for outdoors,spray room violations,and some other things.They don't know for sure if it was the employee that called them,but it was quite a coincidence.

Most all my tools are on wheels as well, the box around bit and blasé are called indicative barriers when not in use.

or so as OSHA suggested and We complied. biggest fine we ever had was 100$ for an breaker not covered in a panel box

Most of 'our' work is site work vs. shop, but I would believe the same principle could apply.

4 years back we began OHSA training for our employees. The 10hr course was the minimal and the 30hr course for Lead or Foreman.
Currently we're bringing everyone up to the 30hr.

Since we implemented this, our occurrences with OSHA have gone much smoother.
Being the last citation we received we were able to defend properly and had it removed. (Cited for a non-GFI splitter plugged into battery chargers)

As James did, we did also. We took first steps. We also, as James did, invited them in to our Warehouse / Shop and asked them where we can improve.

Educate your employees.
Take the first step.
OSHA does not have to be feared.

That is awesome, BTW has anyone had fewer safety incidents since complying?

It is funny that OSHA holds up the reduction in injuries as "all because them". When in reality it is all because of technology.

Since they don't listen to disgruntled employees they certainly won't pay attention to an internet forum? Whoops

Er ah on second thought I think all of the departments of compliance are wonderful and are a real bargain for all they bring to the economy.

Pat as always I have read and taken note of opinions !

I think what I'm stating is an observation.

Would you say the driving force behind this chart is OSHA or technology?

View higher quality, full size image (580 X 422)

Well I would not rule out less workplaces and will say it is a lot safer than my early days !

I would say that technology has obviously made the workplace safer.

But that is just my humble observation.

Pat,
You are correct that technology has made the workplace safer.

I do my best when inspecting businesses to be as reasonable as possible. But, let's face it, we need to make money to pay our bills just like you do. I'm not going to stick a customer with a $50k bill if it's not warranted. But I'll get a few grand in fees out of most inspections. Keeps me employed and the bosses happy.

Apparently Tim is one who is appreciative of all the department of compliance does for/to us?

OSHA fines can be negotiated, if the inspector made a comment like you look good except this needs to be corrected but I think its minor, and the fine on the "minor" is the full amount then document it.

We used a third party that did the negotiation for us a few years back, we got the max reduction in the fines which was 15k to about 1400.

It was the same simple stuff outlets, fire extinguisher locations, blow off nozzles.

A-

We went through an OSHA inspection a few years ago. The long and the short is that we were not cited for any complaint that was filed. What we were cited for was mainly administrative items such as OSHA 30 log. Written policies and most importantly LOTO procedures. Fine dust is in their sights these days. Shop-vacs are not suitable for industrial uses and blowing down a woodshed is a no no.
Any fines are negotiable and you can pay them over the course of 3 years. They don't advertise it. You need to ask.

I'm sorry, but maybe I'm the only one upset over this statement.

"I do my best when inspecting businesses to be as reasonable as possible. But, let's face it, we need to make money to pay our bills just like you do. I'm not going to stick a customer with a $50k bill if it's not warranted. But I'll get a few grand in fees out of most inspections. Keeps me employed and the bosses happy."

The reason for OSHA is just that.. "Occupational Safety" and "Health" of the employee.

It is 'NOT' to raise money to fund their Agency.
OSHA is a Government Agency, funded through the General fund. It is NOT a For-Profit Organization.
This is for a very simple reason.. The Safety of the employee!

I pray I never come across an Inspector that makes such a statement.
I would make it my Mission to have him or her removed from their position.

I, personally am offended by the statement. My opinion, my feelings on the statement.

Robert,
When OSHA was originally set up it was a self funded agency. I don't know if it still is or not.
We have a heavy cord hanging 8' above the floor with a 4x4 box and 120V outlet. It was put in by a licensed electrician for when we need to power an occasionally used tool that is moved out into the shop. The inspector told me it was in violation because the metal box had knockouts. They could fall out and then someone could put their finger in and get electrocuted. He didn't say anything about the same boxes that line the walls on conduit.
I went to OSHA's site on-line and looked up drill presses. The chuck and bit must be enclosed so no contact can be made while in operation. The bit enclosure should rest on the work and retract as the hole is drilled. The wood must be clamped to the table, not held by hand. The machine must be shut off before moving the work to the next hole. When finished with the drill press the chuck must be removed.
Seeing as how all of you are very safety minded I'm sure that is how your drill press is used. Right! REALLY, remove the chuck!
The SawStop must have a totally enclosed blade to prevent amputations. According to the inspector, OSHA currently is emphasizing amputation prevention & dust control. As usual paperwork was high on the list for amputation prevention.

Robert

I suspect that statement was made in jest. It is a part of the ongoing humor that I and the suspected poster have.

He knows my viewpoint of all government agencies and their onerous costs with little benefit compared to their cost.

Larry, to the first, they are funded through the General fund.

To the second, replace the cord with a factory multi plug end and you're in compliance.
We came across this issue several times on the jobsites, even when proper replacement ends were attached. We now throw them out and buy new ones.

RobertNH,
I was not trying to offend, just trying to give you a perspective of the realities we face. Our fines are no different in principle than paying a speeding ticket. The police department needs money to fund their operations, just like we need money to fund ours.

Now, ideally the public would elect people who would raise taxes to reasonable levels in order to fully fund agencies like ours. But instead they pander anti-tax 'have your cake and eat it too' nonsense. And that puts the onus on us to raise money via fines like I explained.

And in one sense, the fines make a bit more sense than higher taxes in that those who "use" our services foot more of the bill for that service than the general public who does not as directly use our service (though they do to some degree).

Hope that helps. And if I do inspect your shop someday, I promise to not be too onerous with the penalties I impose upon you.

Good day.

I have never been a fan of.privatized prison or health safty agencies. In the interest it would seem far more worthy if the inspector were searching for safety first and fines second

I just finished an informal survey of all cabinetshop owners in Seattle.

Every one of us thinks the safety inspectors are doing a much needed job and are greatly unappreciated. We are in the process of forming a lobbying organization. The express purpose of this organization is to petition the legislature to increase the pay and benefits and pension plans of all clerical and inspection staff for safety agencies at the state and Federal level.

We have bi-monthly meetings. If anyone is interested in receiving our monthly newsletter or purchasing advertising in this newsletter please contact the editor.

People think that somehow "public servants"
become selfless when they become "public servants", they do not. They follow self interest just like everyone else.

The diff is that they become less-accountable so have more freedom to perpetrate their self interest.

If you think this is not true, I have some swamp land I want to talk to you about.

Pat for the most part I take your personal opinions with a grain of salt, but this one I feel compelled to respond to, Lumping all into one sterotype is a sign of non investigation or a lack of actual experience. I have family thru the 50s to today who are school teachers firefighters at both local and federal level, family in ATF, DEA, local, state police and military which includes Me, My mother was a State level director her whole career for for the SC Housing authority. All of what you said where they are concerned could not be further from the truth. Now I got one Uncle (Married in) whom I have never been proud of and have few words of conversation for him. You see he is a southern Racist pure and to the core, Problem is he served as a High school principle his entire career, when I think of how many minoritys did not go to college did not excel in life as a direct result of his doing (His words) my heart sinks when I hear opinions like yours. now in the crack of public service he got away with it. it is this that makes me look harder at agendas like the ones you preach it is this and some other (Screw most anyone who does not agree) the thought of an all private controlled society void of rules and consequences that scare us most. in my opinion this is a very selfish agenda to take. problem with my Uncle (Married in) is you and Him seem to share the same ideas

James,

I think your appraisal of Pat is overly harsh. While I can close my eyes and imagine many people like your uncle, Pat is not one of them.

Pat's generally wrong, however, whenever he contends that all things government are bad and all things free enterprise are good. Try getting even a small cabinetshop to deviate on policy sometime and you will see they are no different than Comcast. If you think private business is nimble try getting any kind of anomalous customer service from an Apple Store.

My intentions are to compare the Private vs Public opinions,, I have no reason to think Ill of Pat or that he shares all traits with my Uncle. his contributions do matter as I am someone who belives in checks and balances in gov't and private industry.

My sincerest apologies if my post took on any other meaning than that.

Pat is right, however, about the rigidity of government.

When I was about 23 the city wanted to cut our water off because we hadn't paid the bill. The part of town we lived in had been annexed by the city decades earlier and had consequently inherited an old private water system. The pipes were so corroded that you couldn't draw water fast enough to keep it warm while you filled the tub.

This old privately owned water system was a bit funky in that the pipes tended to meander a bit in ownership. The neighbor across the alley somehow received water from our pipe.

So when the city said we had to pay the bill or else we calmly explained that they couldn't shut our water off because that would mean they had to cut Ben & Molly's off too.

The local government, of course, didn't have any provision for that but they did have a public works department. They brought out backhoes and dump trucks and spent three days piping in about 500 feet of brand new one inch copper to our house and the neighbor's too. They were going to get their money no matter what.

We, of course, went down to city hall and paid the $35 we owed. Since our bill was paid up they couldn't shut our water off. You could have a hot bath when we were done.

For what it is worth I did get the Apple Store to release the batteries for my laptop to an employee of mine that drove in to pick them up. All I had to do was politely explain to the young store manager that if I had to personally drive in to get the batteries we were going to turn this into a youtube event.

So I guess Pat was right: Government=Inflexible. Private Industry = Problem Solvers.

I'm happy to have learned you some stuff.

Regarding James's reply, there is infinitely less racism in the private sector, simply because, you're racism is going to cost you in the private sector.

As far as my narrow mindedness regarding the economics of this subject goes, my response is, Thank you. As a free market advocate and an advocate of people it is a mistake to conflate me with your uncle.

To indicate you share any racial views with my uncle is a mistake I never intended to portray, the blanket disdain and for government is very similar. and this was my point.

We should and need some form of government, largest problem I see with those anti views is a lack of concrete methods or proposals any one can be held accountable too.

could we use a better health care yes. Now what is that ?

Obviously we need some regulation, but that ship sailed a looong time ago.

For the most part this is what I propose: (see link)

My Proposal