The Occupational Safety and Health Administration intends to review its injury and illness prevention (I2P2) rule, according to a notice it provided on Jan. 6 to the Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

This rule — long viewed as OSHA Chief Dr. David Michael’s top priority — would require employers to develop written safety programs and find and fix hazards in their workplaces.

NAHB is concerned that OSHA’s I2P2 rule could require small home builders and other small businesses to implement sophisticated safety and health management systems in order to proactively and continuously address presumed hazards on the job site that may not even be covered under OSHA’s existing regulations.  

As part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA), a panel is convened when any rulemaking will have a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses.

Through the SBREFA process, small business representatives are able to review the proposed regulatory text and draft rule proposed by OSHA.

During a June 29 OSHA stakeholder meeting last year on I2P2, NAHB emphasized that the agency can ensure that small business employers implement and maintain an effective I2P2 plan by promulgating a rule that is simple, practical and flexible, and that brings value to the residential construction industry by improving worker safety.

NAHB also said that it appears that the I2P2 would require a company-wide management system that most small businesses do not have in place, and the association argued that OSHA should consider allowing smaller employers to implement an abbreviated plan.

OSHA is currently preparing materials on the rule for small business representatives and for conference calls with the small entity representatives (SERs) that will take place in mid-March. 

NAHB is planning to have a member participate on the small business review panel, which will give the industry a chance to review the draft proposed rule and inform OSHA of its impact on home builders.

For more information on OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program rule, email Rob Matuga at NAHB, or call him 800-368-5242 x8507.

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The “Jobsite Safety Video,” available through NAHB BuilderBooks, is the first-ever job site safety video for home builders.

The video provides an overview of the key safety issues that residential builders and workers need to focus on to reduce accidents and injuries.

Based on the NAHB-OSHA Jobsite Safety Handbook, this DVD is intended to be used as part of an essential residential construction safety-training program and includes two 20-minute videos on one DVD.

View or purchase this DVD online, or call 800-223-2665.