Pub. 11 2021 Issue 4

16 illinoisdealers.com Automobile Dealer News How Illinois Dealerships Can Avoid OSHAS Top Five: Tips To Avoid The Most Frequently Cited Violations Illinois OSHA Citations They’re rampant, they hide in plain sight, and they have potentially dire consequences for your people and your bottom line. Is your dealership doing enough to avoid the most common OSHA citations in Illinois? Although many people think of OSHA as a monolithic federal agency, it actually operates as a network of regional offices, each with its own priorities and enforcement strategies. On the state level, OSHA’s actions are guided not only by nationwide concerns such as the top 5 citations but also by what the agency calls Local Emphasis Programs (or “LEPs” for short) and Regional Emphasis Programs. According to OSHA, these programs are “intended to address hazards or industries that pose a particular risk to workers in the office’s jurisdiction.” i This means that dealers need to pay careful attention to your local OSHA office and its particular health and safety directives. Stay ahead of inspectors – and ensure the safety and health of your dealership’s workforce – by controlling the unique risks present in any local environment in which you do business. Workforce Health and Safety Issues for Dealers in Illinois Illinois is located in OSHA Region 5, headquartered in Chicago. Here are a few health and safety issues OSHA focuses on in Region 5: Slips, Trips, and Falls Fall protection is a nationwide workplace health and safety concern, but it’s a particularly pressing issue in Illinois given the state’s climate and concentration of industrial activity. Common causes of fall violations include: • Wet surfaces • Uneven surfaces • Inadequate lighting • Ladders that have been improperly set up • Ladders with structural defects • Crowded workspaces • Dangerous weather conditions, e.g. snow and wind • Human error • Poor fall protection precautions • Inadequate training To protect workers from falls, dealerships must do things such as the following: • Eliminate any known dangers in the workplace • Keep floors as clean and dry as possible • Cover floor holes workers can fall into • Provide guardrails and toe-boards around open-sided platforms, floors, and runways as soon as possible. • When required, provide other means of fall protection, including safety harnesses, nets, and railings • Provide workers with personal protective equipment at no cost to them • Train workers about fall hazards Additionally, to minimize fall risk and identify potential hazards, consider the following questions: 1. Have you found and eliminated all fall risks? Walking surfaces and ladders should be kept clean and dry at all times. Holes should be covered. Equipment should be installed and used correctly. A competent member of your staff should regularly assess each facility for fall hazards. Once a hazard has been identified, it should be addressed as soon as possible. Walk- throughs should be conducted daily. Fall prevention, restraint, and arrest equipment should be inspected before each use. Continued on page 18