Labor Cabinet says March surveys helped save companies $896,000 in penalties

Conducted 27 free on-site visits

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 4, 2017) — The Labor Cabinet said in March it conducted 27 free on-site visits, or “consultative surveys” for employers, identifying 128 serious violations affecting up to 729 employees and saving participating companies potential enforcement penalties up to $896,000.

The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health Education & Training leads the cabinet’s proactive efforts to create safe and healthful workplace conditions. This includes providing free consultative surveys to employers in an effort to increase workplace safety by improving injury and illness rates.

Employers and employees also have access to cost-free safety and health eLearning programs on the Labor Cabinet’s eTrain website. The division also offers cost-free OSHA training courses, or “Population Center Training” throughout the state. Proactive approaches to workplace safety, like the ones developed by the cabinet’s education and training team, are proven methods that reduce workplace injuries and can help employers from paying increased workers’ compensation premiums.

In addition to consultative surveys and OSHA training, cost-free assistance from the division consists of publications, required workplace posters and information on injury/illness recordkeeping requirements. The division is also responsible for overseeing the Partnership Programs as well as conducting the Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and the OSHA Data Collection.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Kentucky employers recorded the lowest incident rate for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the state’s history last year.

Along with the Kentucky Safety and Health Network, the Division of Education and Training also co-hosts the Governor’s Safety and Health Conference and Exposition each year. The 33rd annual conference will take place at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington from May 8-12.