By Abby Fenzel, YellowBird

Looking back at 2021, there’s a lot we can learn from the Top 10 OSHA fines. These fines can be the first indicator of what OSHA inspectors will be looking for when they inspect your site in 2022. 

Top 10 OSHA Fines in 2021

1.  Fall Protection (General)
2.  Hazard Communication
3.  Respiratory Protection
4.  Scaffolding
5.  Ladders
6.  Lockout/Tagout
7.  Powered Industrial Trucks
8.  Fall Protection – Training Requirements
9.  Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection
10. Machine Guarding

Not only were there a considerable amount of OSHA fines in 2021, but there were also 57,703 regulatory changes. Trying to navigate all the changes and knowing which apply to your business can be a herculean task. Hiring an EHS Professional can help you steer the ship through choppy OSHA waters, and address issues on your own timeline.

Moving forward into 2022, in addition to learning from 2021’s top fines, here are the top trends you should consider when building out your 2022 Safety Plan. 

1. Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS): Vaccine mandates: Companies that have federal contracts and healthcare workers are required per the ETS to be fully vaccinated. For companies with more than 100 employees, the employees either must be fully vaccinated OR submit to weekly testing and wear a face covering while at work. Those employers with less than 100 employees may opt to mandate. 58% of workers expressed they would consider quitting if their employer did not mandate vaccines. With the continuing confusion regarding legal stays on the mandate, along with various state and local guidelines, it can be difficult to navigate what keeps you in compliance. 
2. Mental Health: Impacting both worker productivity and on-the-job suicide rates, many companies are putting programs in place to address improving worker mental health. If you haven’t recently, make sure your employees know what resources are available to them (healthcare, Employee Assistance Programs, mental health days if your company offers them, etc).  
3. Workplace Drug Testing and the Growing Use of Cannabis: With the legalization of cannabis in many states and growing use in personal settings, cannabis could have an impact on your employees’ job performance. While recreational use may be legal, as an employer you have the right to require employees to be sober while at work. One way to keep your employees honest is by establishing a testing protocol. With the knowledge that there will be a screening system, you’ll have the peace of mind that your employees are at their best when they’re at work. 
4. Heat Stress in Construction and other industries: With the trend of seemingly every year being the hottest year on record, “heat is the leading cause of death among all weather-related phenomena,” according to OSHA. The current heat stress advice is set by the CDC however later this year, OSHA will be making a stand regarding heat stress. Make sure your workers have the proper training to recognize and react to heat stress among themselves and fellow employees. 
5. New Risk Category: Infectious Diseases: As we enter year three of the pandemic, navigating infectious diseases and the havoc they can wreak on your employees has become its own risk category. Having a contact tracing protocol in place can help minimize the number of workers who may become infected. Infrastructure upgrades may be needed as well to ensure cybersecurity for vaccine passports, depending on your company’s policy regarding vaccination.  
6. Growing Use of Temporary/Contracted Workers: Temporary or contract workers provide your business flexibility in various departments, but don’t forget, contractors also need proper training, not just your W2 employees. As workers want more autonomy and work flexibility, contracting has become more appealing to many Americans. Don’t forget to double check your contractor’s experience to make sure they have the proper training required for your work environment. 
7. Investing in ESG: 78% of CFOs surveyed said they were putting ESG metrics into their performance goals for 2022. By integrating Environmental Social Governance in your operational strategies, you can make your business more profitable.
8. Environmental Assessments: Storm water run-off, dust control, wetlands mitigation, and more continue to threaten the environment. If part of your product includes any kind of manufacturing, consider an environmental assessment to see what impact your projects have on the environment and possible changes you could make to reduce your ecological footprint. 
9. Industrial Ergonomics: In the past couple of years, we’ve seen logistics and manufacturing segments grow by leaps and bounds. By proactively designing physical worker activities in an ergonomically friendly manner, you can reduce the number of worker’s comp claims. An added bonus, by investing in your employees’ health, you’ll boost employee morale! 
10. Bringing Worker Training into Compliance: With the pandemic, many certifications lapsed.  With employees back at work in person, now we are dealing with the pent-up demand to ensure worker compliance on key skills such as Forklift training, First Aid training, confined spaces, annual refresher courses, and more. Coordinating this across multiple locations and even states can be a tricky puzzle. 

After reviewing the top issues and OSHA fines, which of the above impact your business the most? These lists can serve as a great starting place to build or update your safety plan. Looking at 2022’s plans and protocols, the next step would be determining your timeline and budget for projects and training.

Spreading the activities over the course of the year can help spread the cost over a couple of quarters to make it more affordable and realistic. One thing to keep in mind when building your calendar is planning for seasonal topics before they are needed. For example, if heat stress is a problem in your industry, it’s better to educate your workers in the Spring rather than in the thick of July when it could be too late for the message to make a difference. 

What better time to align resources than the beginning of the year! With a fresh mind after the holidays, it’s a great time to evaluate your internal resources and see what value outsourced professionals can provide to create and execute your 2022 safety plan. 

About the AuthorAbby Fenzel is the Director of Marketing & Communications for YellowBird. She’s worked in various communications roles for eight years in a variety of industries. Fenzel is a third Generation Arizonan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Northern Arizona University. If you’re looking for quality, experienced EHS professionals, look no further than YellowBird! YellowBird’s professional gig platform quickly and easily connects vetted and certified Environmental, Health, Safety, and Risk Professionals to opportunities on-demand. YellowBird uses matching technology to connect the right people, in the right location, with the right experience for the job. Safety has never been so simple! To see more go to www.goYellowBird.com.