ATLANTA EAST UPDATE

Bill FulcherArea DirectorAtlanta East Area Office

NEW BIG BOSS - NEW DIRECTION?

• David Michaels, PhD, MPH• Priorities:

– Vigorous enforcement of existing standards– Promulgating sensible new standards that use the latest

science– Responding quickly and forcefully when worker safety is

endangered– Giving voice to workers, especially those whose voices

are not easily heard– Ensuring that all workers and employers are treated

fairly– Directing OSHA in a responsible, even-handed, open and

transparent way

NEW LOCAL BOSS- NEW DIRECTION?

• New Area Director assigned to Atlanta East on August 15 , 2010– Priority is effective and fair enforcement- worker protection!– Higher number of complaint & referral inspections being

performed to address worker concerns.– New Hires – New Supervisor

• Case file resolution in the area office with abatement, settlement and worker protection set as the basis of all agreements.

• Establish effective FSHC’s in area– New council in Middle Georgia

ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR

• Issued more Significant Enforcement Cases this year than ever before – 12 cases by September 30

• Issued 91 % Serious Violations with and average penalty exceeding $2,000.00

• Enhanced Enforcement Activities at Warner Robins– Settled Cases and getting abatement– Working relationship with AFGE Local – Assisted with the implementation of a base-wide employee

complaint program• Outreach• Compliance Assistant Specialists performing collateral

duties with the VPP Office

WHAT ELSE IS NEW at ATLE?

• 11 new employees –– 9 CSHO’s; 1 W/B; 1 Clerical

• New Supervisor Selection• Building Inspectors’ Outreach

Program – construction safety referrals

• Emphasis Programs

Emphasis Programs• REP- Forklifts- affects all industries• REP- Noise- Sawmill/ Wood; Concrete; & Plastics operations• REP- SHARPS- Surgical Care; Emergency Care and Primary Care Clinics• REP- Silica – all industries• REP- Overhead Powerlines – Repair and Construction- includes any

exposed worker to powerlines• REP- Scrap/ Waste Recyclers – “junkyards” & recyclers• REP/ LEP- Lead – all industries• REP- Falls in Construction- any hazard > 6’• REP- Landscaping – commercial or residential operations• REP- Sanitation/ Clean-up Operations in Food Operations• NEP- Primary Metals – chemical and physical hazards in Metals• NEP – Trench/ Excavations• NEP – Amputations – • NEP – Hexavalent Chromium• NEP – Severe Violators • SST Directive- High I/I rates targeting in general industry

NEW WAYS OF COMMUNICATING

• DOL Newsletter – http://www.dol.gov/sec/newsletter/

• Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/hildasolis• Twitter- http://twitter.com/USDOL• YouTube-

http://www.youtube.com/usdepartmentoflabor/• E-mail Subscription Service-

http://www.dol.gov/dol/email/htm• Region IV’s electronic newsletter-

– contact Kaylene Sherrod- Moore at: sherrodmoore.kaylene@dol.gov or 678-237-0439.

OSHA LISTENS

• National stakeholders’ meetings to hear issues

• Virtual Stakeholder Meetings• Open webpages for comments on direct

topics• Blogs• Call Atlanta-East for advice!

– 770-493-6644– Compliance Assistant Specialists – free help

WHAT HAS BEEN UP IN REGION IV and ATLANTA EAST?

• Deepwater Horizon Spill Response• Fatalities• Enforcement • Staffing• Cooperative Efforts

DEEPWATER HORIZON SPILL RESPONSE

• Began April 26• 4,266 site visits• 7,439 exposure

assessments• Concluded response

technical assistance September 30

• Approximately 1000 heat stress cases

• No fatalities

FATALITIES

• REGIONAL DATA-– In FY10 - Region IV had 147

fatalities which was a 5% reduction from FY09

– FY 09 38% reduction; 153 vs 242

• ATLANTA EAST DATA-– In FY10 – 12 investigations-

14% reduction from FY09 (14)

– In FY09 – 14 investigations – 30% reduction from FY08 (20)

– SO FAR FY11 – 8 CASES

ATLE ENFORCEMENT 2011

• Perform 711 inspections in FY11- so far 493 • 51% of resources in construction• 91% violations cited as Serious• Saturation efforts performed various times during

the year to concentrate on Construction Hazards• 32% of all complaints have resulted in an

inspection – highest in Region IV• 100% 1-day response to accidents and referrals• Issue minimum of 2 Sig Cases- will issue 12

during FY11

Region IV TOP 10 VIOLATIONS

• Scaffolding• Fall Protection• Hazard Communication• Ladders• Process Safety Management• Respiratory Protection• Lockout/Tagout• Electrical, Wiring Methods• Powered Industrial Trucks• Electrical, General Requirements

STAFFING

• Region IV got 59 additional FTE– 9 assigned to ATLE

(includes retirement replacements)

• 5 Safety• 4 I/H’s

– 1 new Supervisor– 1 new W/B Investigator– 1 new clerical

COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS

• Compliance assistance available– Building Inspectors’ Program– Grain Handling– Heat Stress

• VPP applications and evaluations – collateral duty this year at Atlanta East

• Partnerships & Alliances Ongoing -• Consultation Programs

QUESTIONS?

NOW’S YOUR CHANCE