Evaluation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Site Specific Targeting Program

IMPAQ conducted a random assignment impact evaluation of OSHA’s Site Specific Targeting (SST) program, an inspection program that targets establishments in high-hazard non-construction sectors. The purpose of the evaluation was to estimate the impact of both High Rate Letters and SST inspections on site injury/illness rates and compliance with Federal safety and health standards. The evaluation comprised two components: an outcomes assessment study that uses historic OSHA administrative data to examine the characteristics, violation outcomes, and penalties assessed for sites targeted by SST, and a random assignment impact study of the SST program on site injury/illness rates and violation outcomes.  These two studies helped OSHA identify the types of employers that are most likely to have high injury/illness rates and/or be in violation of Federal safety and health standards, and assess the efficacy of SST interventions to reduce injury/illness rates and improve compliance.