New OSHA Weighting System in Effect for Workplace Inspections

OSHA is using a new system to prioritize workplace inspections and enforcement activities, the agency announced in a press release. The new OSHA Weighting System, or OWS, went into effect on Oct. 1 and incorporates factors such as types of hazards to be inspected and abated, according to the agency. The new system also considers agency priorities, the impact of inspections, and initiatives such as OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting program, which schedules inspections based on injury and illness data submitted by employers.

According to OSHA, the previous prioritization system, instituted in 2015, primarily considered the length of time needed to complete an inspection.