Washington – The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is proposing a review of its settlement program, suggesting participants of the program could provide insight to improve the program.
The Settlement Procedure program (29 CFR 2200.120) is intended to encourage settlements of contested OSHA citations to reduce litigation costs. Employers with proposed penalties of $100,000 or more are required to participate in the informal settlement process overseen by an OSHRC judge. If no agreement is reached, the case continues through the system.
OSHRC also will send a multiple-choice survey to program participants, including employers, attorneys and Department of Labor personnel, who participated in the program from Feb. 15, 2011, through Feb. 14, 2012.
The commission announced the proposed review in the Nov. 1 Federal Register. Any proposed information collection request is required to undergo review by the Office of Management and Budget, as stated in the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Comments on the request are due Jan. 3.
