On May 21, 2008, OSHA announced its Site-Specific Targeting (‘SST”) program for 2008. The SST program is part of OSHA’s programmed inspection plan for non-construction workplaces with 40 or more employees. OSHA implements a new SST program every year.

This year’s SST program adopts the same provisions as last year’s program, but with the following significant changes:

• OSHA increased the number of establishments it will randomly select and inspect from 100 last year to approximately 175 this year. OSHA will select establishments from industries that have a DART rate (days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees) and DAFWII rate (days away from work injury and illness) above the national average;
• The threshold DAFWII rate to qualify for the Secondary List of programmed inspections will change from between 4.0 and 9.0 to between 5.0 and 9.0. The DART rate to qualify for the Secondary list will remain at between 7.0 and 11.0. The threshold rates to qualify for the Primary List will remain at a DART rate at or above 11.0, or a DAFWII rate at or above 9.0;
• OSHA now requires each area office to use a web-based application to create SST inspection cycles and to update the inspection lists; and
• To obtain a 90-calendar day deferral, an establishment must request an initial full-service comprehensive consultation visit for safety and health. In 2007, an establishment only had to request a consultation for safety or health.