Criteria expanded to place employers in OSHA severe violator program

The U.S. Department of Labor said last week that it is expanding the criteria to place employers into the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

The program, which focuses on employers that repeatedly violate federal health and safety laws or refuse to correct violations, has broadened the criteria to include any OSHA violation.

Previously, employers could be placed into the program for failing to meet a limited number of standards.

Among the changes, employers can be placed in the program if they receive citations for at least two willful or repeat violations or fail to correct serious violations.

Employers placed into the program are included in a public list of severe violators and are subject to follow-up inspections.