Avoiding OSHA Pitfalls

Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcement of the trucking industry is increasing due to the hazards of the job. While the greater enforcement by the Department of Transportation gets that agency more attention in the industry, Jim Henderson of Helpe Inc. Transportation Safety Systems says there are a number of OSHA regulations that apply to small carriers as well. In addition, some states have stricter rules than OSHA.

Strictness on safety seems to pay off, as the federal statistics show that trucking companies have fewer job-related illnesses and injuries even though they have more workers. Many small carriers take steps to avoid the agency's attention, including hiring consultants to find problems or creating better procedures and policies for safety. Sometimes, companies can evade OSHA attention by getting smaller.

Stuart Flatow of the American Trucking Associations says companies should always have paperwork and "rules of engagement" ready in case inspectors show up, and they can get the inspectors' favor by letting them in right away.

The most-cited OSHA violation for all companies is the hazard communication standard, regarding hazardous chemicals, while not reporting occupational deaths and placing fire extinguishers incorrectly are also common problems. Other top citations in the trucking industry include personal protective equipment, general duty clause, electrical wiring and systems, hazardous liquids, and abrasive wheel machinery.

A new OSHA standard requires training, testing, and certification for operators of pallet jacks, motorized hand trucks, and forklifts. The trucking industry and others have registered numerous complaints about the new, and long-awaited, proposed OSHA ergonomics regulations.

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