IIPP Compliance With SB 198

The leading cause of Cal/OSHA citations is lack of compliance with the SB 198 Injury and Illness Prevention program. This program is a standard and is one of the most complicated and misunderstood requirements for compliance with Cal/OSHA.

According to California law, most employers with 10 or more employees must establish, implement and maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). The repercussions of getting it wrong or failing to comply altogether can be costly.

Unless you’re up to date with SB-198 required compliance, you are at much higher risk for Cal/OSHA fines and citations, higher workers’ compensation costs, increased insurance rates and most importantly, you are risking employee safety. Start reducing those risks immediately by requesting a safety audit from one of our Risk Management Consultants today.

What happens during a Cal/OSHA inspection?

Inspections are surprise visit, as Cal/OSHA is not required to notify you of an upcoming inspection. During this visit, Cal/OSHA inspectors are required to review your SB 198 Injury and Illness Prevention Program and associated records during every inspection. Here are some statistics to keep in mind:

1 out of 3 workers hurt on the job have been employed at that company less than a year.
70 percent of Cal/OSHA inspections are triggered by employee complaints.
California businesses have to comply with more than 3,000 pages of additional regulations.
Disabling workplace injuries have decreased since the SB 198 standard went into effect.
On average, 18 fatal workplace accidents occur each workday.
60 percent of all fall-related injuries occur from heights under 10 feet.

Insight into SB 198 Requirements with a Safety Inspection Audit:

The elements every Injury and Illness Prevention Program must cover
Components you need to include in your written plan
Ensuring your company’s SB 198 program is manageable
Specifics a Cal/OSHA inspector will look for in your prevention program

Take Proactive Safety Measures

Setting safety goals and objectives that tie into Cal/OSHA compliance
How to get workers to come to you with their safety concerns before they call Cal/OSHA
Smart self-assessment techniques — and how to evaluate your compliance status ongoing
Safety practices you can use to avoid accidents and citations

Maintain Critical Records With Supportive Documentation

How to maintain injury and illness recordkeeping requirements
Determining if an incident is recordable
Retention and maintenance of Cal/OSHA records
How to calculate your OSHA incident rate and your company’s lost workday injury rate
What specific documentation techniques you should be using in your Cal/OSHA files

Identify & Control Potential Workplace Hazards

How to develop a hazard control system that meets Cal/OSHA standards
Cultivate and prioritize a Safety Culture among staff
Reducing your employer liability

Train Employees To Stay In Compliance

Making safety meetings a priority to employees
Training techniques for workers who don’t read/speak English
How to get management buy-in on new safety practices and expenditures

Improve Handling Of Accident & Injury Investigations

Identify and execute the first action to take when you arrive on the scene
Questions you need to ask those involved — and what to do if their answers don’t match
How to correctly interpret and apply the information you’ve gathered

For more information on how to get started, contact one of our Risk Management Consultants today.

IIPP Compliance With SB 198