Pub. 11 2021 Issue 4

19 • Lost productivity during and after an incident • Lowered workforce morale due to fear and uncertainty around risk areas • Hours of labor spent identifying and fixing the issue • Expenses of cleaning and replacing equipment that’s out-of-date, damaged or broken • Legal and compliance fees • Negative publicity and reputational damage Staying Up-to-Date on Regulations, Reporting, and Training Don’t wait until OSHA comes knocking to make sure your EHS paperwork, policies, and training are complete and up to date. Investigators pay attention to everything, and the seemingly tiniest details can lead to violations. For example, if the last three months of inspection forms have been filled out in the same handwriting with the same color of ink, that’s a dead giveaway to OSHA that the employer may be falsifying information. Stay compliant and keep your workforce safe by recording and reporting everything on time, providing periodic refresher training to employees, and keeping your policies in line with all regulatory updates. Automated safety and compliance software makes this easy. The Cost of an OSHA Violation OSHA penalties can exceed $13,000 per violation and as much per day for every day the issue hasn’t been fixed by OSHA’s deadline. The fine for a willful or repeated violation can be 10 times as much. In 2021, the maximum penalty for such a violation is $136,532. iii Those are just the direct costs. Organizations that don’t adequately address common workplace hazards can expect to pay hundreds of thousands – even millions – in indirect expenses. Of course, the true costs of a safety violation are incalculable. No one can put a number on an employee’s life. Suffice it to say, it’s in your organization’s best interest to bring your annual number of injuries and illnesses to zero. Fortunately, avoiding an OSHA citation isn’t as complex or cost-intensive as many people think. Small steps can save you six or seven figures – or save someone’s life. Read on to learn about the five most common OSHA violations and what you can do today to reduce their chances of happening in your workplace. Top OSHA Citations Across the U.S. Here are the top OSHA citations across the country in 2020. This list has remained largely unchanged for a decade. The reality is undeniable: many environmental, safety and health professionals are failing to adequately recognize and mitigate the greatest sources of workforce risk. No matter how much you know (or think you know) about the most common workplace violations out there, it’s clear that organizations could use some help. In fiscal year 2020, OSHA issued hundreds of citations combined in the following categories: iv You Don’t Have to Manage Your OSHA Requirements Alone Have questions? Looking for more detailed OSHA compliance guidance? KPA is here to help. This is only a basic overview of the most common violations in Illinois. To truly protect your workforce and bottom line, you’ll need in-depth information – and not just about these key areas, but every potential hazard that exists in your dealership. You’ll also need to conduct a thorough evaluation of your facilities to identify current gaps and risk areas. KPA’s unique combination of expert EHS consulting services, software, and training can provide the coverage your people and your dealership needs. KPA clients get access to more than 120 field consultants across North America who are available to deliver both on-site and virtual compliance support, as well as audit loss control services. Additionally, KPA’s Vera Suite software helps dealers manage their EHS, F&I, and HR programs in one comprehensive platform. The combination of KPA’s software platform and deep industry expertise helps clients manage risk, streamline operations, and reduce costs.  i https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/lep ii Full requirements can be found at https://www.osha.gov/dts/ osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_4.html#fall_arrest iii https://www.osha.gov/penalties iv Motor Vehicle parts and Dealers Data Auto Repair and Maintenance Data