Your Letter From OSHA Is In The Mail

Hey Milo,

This will never affect me personally, (I hope), but I've got to tell ya, this gives me the creeps! OSHA is also finding it's way into very small businesses, I'm talking 2-3 people............nothing good is coming from it, from what I can see. It's leading to safer, out of work, people.

" Good afternoon, we're from the Government, and we're here to help".

Yikes!!!!

PS- Especially the illness part. If you're running a small shop and the flu makes it's rounds a couple of times within a year, or a quarter, resulting in lost days, it's going to make your numbers look horrible, would that be justification for OSHA to come around and, "help", you?

Envision this:

OSHA Inspecteur Clouseau visits "The Deadliest Catch!"

How long until he/she gets deep-sixed?

Wow! That's a good point............OSHA can write up violations just by watching the TV show. Everything is documented and witnessed. How convenient!

While following all applicable safety rules, the OSHA inspector went to take a look at the bottom of the boat, hearing protection to block out engine noise, etc. The rule book included nothing about using a breathing apparatus while under water.

underwater would be a confined space entry.

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

You guys are just use to visits by compliance officers. They show up to find out if your in compliance with their safety regulations. Generally you get fined and citations for things you new were a problem. But you never addressed them. Most of the time we hear about the fines that were imposed from the visit. You never hear what they settled on.

It's a different story if your the one asking for help. They work with you in providing a safe work environment. Their attitude changes from just being a enforcement officer to someone giving guidance. Usually it is the same person that works these programs you soon have a working relation.

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/sharp_sites.html

We made the SHARPS list in 2008.