A study ISHN conducted recently to help us understand safety and health professionals’ perceptions and expectations around change in OSHA-related regulations, as a result of a new political administration in Washington D.C. produced a wealth of information and opinions.

An article posted earlier about whether or not OSHA standards should be repealed showed a division among respondents based mainly on their job functions.

This time around, we’ll drill down deeper into those numbers by exploring which standards are most opposed by people in corporate management, those in safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions or those who fall into the “other” category. We also asked about proposed standards, such as the Injury and Illness Prevention Program and combustible dust.

Among survey respondents who would like at least one of the current OSHA standards repealed, here are the percentages favoring repeal of specific standards:

Electronic recordkeeping and public posting of employer injury/illness records final standard

• corporate management – 64%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 71%
• other – 40%

Injury and Illness Prevention Program proposal

• corporate management – 62%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 58%
• other – 26%

The updated hazard communication/GHS final standard

• corporate management – 56%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 50%
• other – 47%

Occupational exposure to silica final standard

• corporate management – 56%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 42%
• other –  17%

Personal fall protection in general industry Walking/Working surfaces standard

• corporate management – 45%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 29%
• other – 5%

Chemical management and permissible exposure limits proposal

• corporate management – 42%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 33%
• other – 44%

Combustible dust proposal

• corporate management – 38%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 45%
• other – 28%

Occupational exposure to beryllium final standard

• corporate management – 36%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 14%
• other – 20%

Confined Space in Construction final standard

• corporate management – 31%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 20%
• other – 10%;

Whistleblower protection

• corporate management – 19%
• safety/industrial hygiene/environmental functions – 32%
• other – 22%

Comments and criticism

Survey respondents also shared suggestions for OSHA and criticisms of the agency:

• I would like to have the fines reduced
• Reduce the fines assessed during inspections
• Increased fine structure
• Ergonomics
• Anything older than 5 years needs a review
• Do not cite ANSI/NFPA/Etc. proposed 'standards' that are not within the actual 29CFR 1910 standard
• Greater emphasis/efforts on assistance rather than citations particularly employers with less than 20 employees
• Hearing
• I would like to have the width of a parapet considered when the height of the parapet is judged as too short and needing fall protection installed
• If an incident occurs that causes an injury, OSHA would only be allowed to assess a fine for that particular cause. If during the inspection they notice other possible infractions, they should note and discuss with employer and not fine
• Make recordkeeping similar to that required by workers compensation
• Make the maintain and make public studies on all measurement tools they use
• MSHA regulations are archaic and their fines/assessments need to be changed
• Not allow them to make up requirements just because they feel like it
• PM 2.5
• Posting of past violations for public access before appeals processed
• PSM altered to more manageable based on actual risk
• Required copies of programs [no compensation and gives citation development six months to carefully vies the document{s} contents
• Respiratory protection as applied to powered (positive pressure) respirators used for eye protection
• Retaliation
• Review lockout/tagout

The research was conducted by the Market Research Division of our parent company, BNP Media.

Click below to read previous articles about the survey:

OSHA standards: to repeal or not to repeal

Should OSHA’s budget change?

ISHN readers want next OSHA chief to…