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<br />PC# a <br /> <br />REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR A VOLUNTARY OSHA <br />WORKPLACE SAFETY CONSULTATION <br /> <br />By: Givonna Reed Kone, Human Resources Manager <br /> <br />Backf!round <br /> <br />Periodically, the Compliance Division of the Minnesota Department of Occupational <br />Safety and Health conducts unannounced inspections of employers' facilities. <br />In areas where an employer is determined to be non-compliant fines are issued and the <br />employer is required to rectify the issue. This year cities are being targeted by MN <br />OSHA and many are incurring exorbitant fines for violations. <br /> <br />Through the Workplace Safety Consultation Division ofMN OSHA, employers who <br />want to be proactive in preserving the health and safety of employees may request a <br />voluntary inspection. Upon completion of the voluntary inspection, the employer is <br />required to remedy all issues within a certain amount of time and fmes are not issued. <br /> <br />To-date Ramsey has not been approached by the OSHA Compliance Division; however, <br />in an effort to be proa~tive staff would like to invite Workplace Safety Consultation to <br />the city of Ramsey in ~eptember to conduct a voluntary inspection. Earlier this week <br />staff brought in a Loss I Control Consultant through the League of Minnesota Cities to <br />conduct a mock OSHA inspection. This mock inspection revealed some areas where <br />additional efforts must I be made to preserve employees' health and safety. The results of <br />the mock inspection '-'jll be used to prepare for a voluntary inspection with Workplace <br />Safety Consultation, if approved by the city council. <br /> <br />Fundinf! Source <br /> <br />It is difficult to determine the costs of becoming OSHA compliant. It is staff s <br />recommendation that, then possible, small expenses would be paid from department <br />budgets and large expefses would be paid from the Insurance Fund. There is currently <br />$425,000 in the InsurClfce Fund and these monies are typically used for large, unexpected <br />workers' compensation, liability and unemployment claims. <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation <br /> <br />Authorize staff to request a voluntary inspection by OSHA Workplace Safety <br />Consultation. <br /> <br />Committee Action <br /> <br />Make a motion recoml11ending that the city council authorize staff to request a voluntary <br />inspection by OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation. <br /> <br />G:\AdministrationlSafetylreq auth to conduct osha inspection 6-12-07.doc <br /> <br />-177- <br />