OSHA Renews National Emphasis Program on Amputations

OSHA officials have renewed the agency’s national emphasis program on amputations in manufacturing industries.  

The NEP program looks to identify and reduce or eliminate hazards from machinery in manufacturing and industrial workplaces that could lead to amputations and other injuries. 

Agency officials will conduct inspections of manufacturing facilities, looking at practices and policies in place for safely operating and servicing machines.  

Program Updates  

Under the renewed program OSHA officials updated the list of NAICS codes for businesses who are subject to an inspection.  

There are a number of new types of industries added, including frozen specialty food manufacturing, spice and extract manufacturing, soft drink manufacturing, hardwood veneer and plywood manufacturing, cut stone and stone product manufacturing, farm machinery and equipment manufacturing, iron foundries, steel foundries (except investment), aluminum foundries, upholstered household furniture manufacturing, and automobile manufacturing, among others.  

The new program also removes facilities previously inspected from the list.  

Establishments that had an inspection under the national emphasis program in the last 24 months and did not report an amputation will be removed from the inspection list.  

Establishments that had an inspection under the national emphasis program in the last 24 months and did not report an amputation will be removed from the inspection list.  

Other establishments expempt from inspections are those with 10 or fewer employees who have a primary NAICS code on the Low-Hazard Industry Table of the Appropriations Act Directive.  

Additionally, OSHA officials revised the OSHA Information Systems coding instructions in Section VII for all OSHA amputation inspections. 

Safety Programs  

The updated program will replace the previous version and will remain in place until June 27, 2030.  

Employers covered under the program should spend time reviewing health and safety programs and procedures to ensure compliance.