OSHA has increased violation rates in an effort to improve workplace safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency in the United States that is responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for employees. In January 2023, OSHA announced a fierce new plan to address workplace safety concerns that would go into effect in March, notably including a significant increase to serious workplace safety violations from $14,502 to a maximum $15,625 fine with a multiplier included. This means 10 construction workers lacking adequate fall protection on a job site could potentially mean a $15,625 fine times 10, or $156,250. Prior to this plan, violations were grouped, meaning if 10 construction workers lacked proper PPE, the fine would only be $14,502. Introducing the multiplier into the equation is intended to encourage employers to comply with the intent of the OSH Act, otherwise, experience a serious penalty.

What Conditions Are Included With These New Rules?

• Lockout/Tagout (LOTOs)

• Machine guarding

• Permit-required confined spaces

• Respiratory protection

• Fall protection

• Trenching

• Use cases with other-than-serious violations specific for record-keeping

How Technology Can Eradicate Opportunities for OSHA Fines

If not taken seriously, the gravity of these violations can have a significant negative impact on a business. Introducing technology within your organization, whether it’s to address manufacturing or construction safety, can make all the difference in avoiding a severe OSHA violation. Here are a few ways different digital solutions can elevate your business and reduce opportunities for OSHA fines:

Prioritizing Data Collection and Management

Data is being passed around every day even if you’re not tracking it. Whether it pertains to site safety or the temperature of certain foods, data lives everywhere in our day-to-day. Prioritizing data collection and management in the workplace can factor into improving decision-making processes, reducing risks and hazards, enhancing regulatory compliance, and improving overall safety performance and culture. But how and where do you begin with identifying how to capture data properly?

An easy place to begin is by identifying where challenges often occur in your business. If your business has struggled with employees not complying with internal processes pertaining to safety measures, create a standard operating procedure (SOP) that includes authorizations after critical safety training portions, and organize employee training data in individual folders. If an employee isn’t adhering to the proper systems in place, the stored employee data can be used to remind them of their completed training and alert them to SOP violations. 

A great digital tool for this type of data collection and management would be an operational data management platform, that also possesses the added capabilities of providing safety training, obtaining authorizations, and automatically routing completed data to designated folders through integrations.

Mobile Forms

Safety forms are a key component required for many industries, and digitizing OSHA-specific documentation can serve as a powerful tool to eliminate opportunities for violations in the workplace. Leveraging mobile forms, businesses can operate on the go, which is extremely beneficial for field-based businesses that need to hand off critical information to office-based personnel. Whether it’s a hot work permit or job safety analysis, completing forms from the field on a phone or tablet significantly enhances access to critical safety information – allowing businesses time to respond to critical safety concerns. 

In most cases, companies are required to utilize specific forms or already have forms that employees are familiar with using. Rather than reinventing the wheel, GoFormz is the only mobile forms and data capture platform that allows businesses to turn their existing forms into identical, digital versions – resulting in streamlined adoption. This capability has significantly helped thousands of businesses prioritize the safety and security of their employees in the workplace. To see mobile forms in action, check out how Robert Henry Corporation prioritizes safety through mobile forms.

Barcode Scanning

Barcodes are a simple, yet effective way to help businesses move in the direction of digital transformation. Digitally transforming business processes eliminates the need for paper on-site, which in turn eliminates opportunities for missing paperwork, delays, and illegible handwriting. 

Barcodes can be used to automatically populate specific site documentation, equipment inspection forms, conduct health checks in the field before employees enter a site, and so much more. For example, before a machine operator conducts their work, they can scan a specific machine barcode, run tests on the machine, and complete the inspection through an online form that can be automatically routed to a safety supervisor, all in real-time. This approach significantly reduces opportunities for injuries in the workplace and prioritizes the safety of employees operating the machines. 

Get Ahead Before You Get Behind

It’s clear that 2023 is the year of digital advancements when it comes to addressing workplace safety concerns. By staying informed, doing research, implementing standard operating procedures, making use of technology, increasing visibility, and communicating with employees, businesses can minimize safety concerns and provide the best possible experience for employees.

About GoFormz

GoFormz is an operational data management platform that helps bring your captured form data into a single, actionable place. We believe that everyone should be able to fill out forms online and deliver products and services that redefine how people and businesses collect and process information. Whether it’s enhancing food safety culture or digitizing OSHA-specific documentation, GoFormz is your one-stop shop to modernize data capture and prioritize safety programs. Begin your digital transformation with customizable, accessible digital and mobile forms that can help you capture accurate data without the messy paperwork.