The list of low-hazard industries in which small business employers are exempt from OSHA programmed safety inspections will remain the same as those in 2003, the agency announced Tuesday. The exemption is for industries with lost workday injury (LWDI) rates below the national private sector rate of 2.6 for 2001.

OSHA traditionally revises the list (Appendix A of Compliance Directive 02-00-051) every year in accordance with the latest BLS LWDI data to update the list of exempt industries in SIC codes having an LWDI rate below the national, private sector rate. However, this year the appendix cannot be updated due to changes in OSHA's recordkeeping rule that affect the manner in which BLS reports occupational injuries.