OSHA Will Soon Focus on Weekend Inspections in Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota

Through the fall of 2022, OSHA area offices in Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota will undertake the Weekend Work initiative to open workplace safety and health inspections on Saturdays and Sundays. The initiative, announced on July 11, will identify and address construction-related fall-hazards on weekends – a time when many employers typically do not monitor their job sites well, said OSHA Regional Administrator Jennifer Rous (Denver). OSHA intends its approach to identify hazardous worksites, ensure that workers are protected from injuries or worse, and help ensure employers provide a safe and healthful workplace. What should employers in these areas do to prepare?

Where Should You Prepare for Inspections?

The counties where employers should prepare for ramped-up weekend activity are:

Colorado

• Arapahoe
• Douglas
• Jefferson
• El Paso
• Adams
• Boulder
• Broomfield
• Denver
• Larimer
• Weld

Montana

• Yellowstone
• Carbon
• Stillwater

South Dakota

• Minnehaha
• Lincoln
• Brookings
• Pennington
• Union

What Should Employers do to Prepare?

Throughout the Denver Metro area, roofing employers have seen an increase in inspections and citations for work occurring on the weekend when supervisors or safety managers may not be working.

You will want to discuss this initiative with your weekend crews so they understand that they still must follow their fall protection and other safety training on the weekends. 

You should also consider assigning a supervisor to check on weekend crews. They could conduct random site inspections on the weekend, or require crews to take photos of appropriate safety precautions prior to starting work. 

Conclusion

If you have any questions, contact your Fisher Phillips attorney, the author of this insight, any member of our Workplace Safety Practice Group, or any attorney in our Denver office. Make sure you are subscribed to Fisher Phillips’ Insight System to get the most up-to-date information on OSHA issues.