MARCH 1998  VOL. 8, NO. 1  Cooperative Compliance Program Stopped…For Now By Dave Weinand, Oklahoma Steel & Wire As many AWPA member companies are probably aware, OSHA attempted to implement a new program called the OSHA Cooperative Compliance Program at the beginning of 1998. This program basically required employers with a Lost Workday Injury and Illness Rate of 7.0 or higher to join the program or be immediately placed on an automatic inspection list. Those companies that joined the program would reduce their chances for inspection to only 30% and would be required to provide annual information to OSHA regarding their injury statistics and safety program. Due to a lawsuit filed by the National Association of Manufactures and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this program has been temporarily put on hold. This program appears to be an attempt by OSHA to streamline their inspection process so that they concentrate on those companies with the highest injury rates. However, there are two major concerns in the implementation of the program. First, in calculating the Lost Workday Injury and Illness rate threshold for the program, OSHA did not take into account any risk adjustment by industry. This means that heavy industry is being held to the same threshold as light industry. Second, OSHA appears to be attempting to enforce ergonomic standards under this program, an issue that Congress has specifically kept from being implemented. The following article from the National Association of Manufacturers addresses the current status of the program. Back to Wireline Contents American Wire Producers Association 6232 Roudsby Lane Alexandria, VA 22315-5285 Tel (703) 971-6454 | Fax (703) 971-6997 | E-mail info@awpa.org