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Bruce Springsteen performances . . . but it could be expanded to more ordinary workplace activities that involve unique hazards that are not easily addressed through conventional measures. e industry should consider if any of its activities fall into this category and respond accordingly. ere is historical use of some machines for which guards are not feasible, and this has long been a point of contention with OSHA, so this may afford an opening for relief. Speaking of which, OSHA has renewed its National Emphasis Program on Amputations in Manufacturing Industries, focused on preventing amputations in manufacturing workplaces. Under the renewed program, which aims to identify and mitigate hazards that could lead to amputations and other injuries in the manufacturing sector, OSHA will conduct inspections of manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with safety practices during the operation, servicing, or maintenance of machines. e pallet industry is included in this initiative. e focus includes controlling dangerous energy sources and making sure machines are properly guarded to prevent amputations. e program looks at companies using machinery that pose a risk of amputation. Significant changes in the updated emphasis program include: • An updated list of North American Industry Code System establishment codes identified for inclusion in the program. • Allowing establishments that had an inspection under the NEP in the previous 24 months and did not report an amputation to be deleted from the programmed inspection list. • Revisions to the OSH A Information Systems coding instructions. e updated program replaces the previous version, which expired on June 27, 2025, and will remain in place for five years from the effective date. More information on the NEP and amputation prevention can be found at osha.gov/ sites/default/files/enforcement/ directives/CPL-03-00-027.pdf. Beyond those items, OSHA announced penalty reductions for smaller employers this summer. e new policy, outlined in the Penalties and Debt Collection section of OSHA's Field Operations Manual, increases penalty reductions for small employers. So a penalty reduction level of 70%, which was previously only applicable for businesses with 10 or fewer employees, will now be expanded to include businesses that employ up to 25 employees. e revisions also include new guidelines for a 15% penalty reduction for employers who immediately take steps to address or correct a hazard (abatement).

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