Evaluation of Federal Occupational Safety and Health Programs

29 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart J
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

29 C.F.R. § 1960.78 Purpose and scope.

(a) The purpose of this subpart is to establish a comprehensive program for the evaluation of Federal employee occupational safety and health programs. This subpart includes the responsibilities of agency heads in conducting self-evaluations of the effectiveness of their occupational safety and health programs, and the responsibilities of the Secretary in evaluating the extent to which each agency head has developed and implemented agency programs in accordance with the requirements of Executive Order 12196 and this part. (b) Agency heads shall develop and implement a program for evaluating the effectiveness of their agency's occupational safety and health program. An annual summary report shall be submitted to the Secretary covering self-evaluations conducted during the previous year. (c) The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation of each Federal agency's occupational safety and health program. Evaluations shall be conducted on a regular schedule to determine the performance levels of each agency's program. The Secretary shall submit to the President each year: A summary report of the status of the occupational safety and health of Federal employees; Department of Labor evaluations, together with agency responses, of individual agency progress and problems in correcting unsafe and unhealthful working conditions, and recommendations for improving agency's performance.

29 C.F.R. § 1960.79 Self-evaluations of occupational safety and health programs.

Agency heads shall develop and implement a program of self-evaluations to determine the effectiveness of their occupational safety and health programs. The self-evaluations are to include qualitative assessments of the extent to which their agency safety and health programs are: (a) Developed in accordance with the requirements set forth in Executive Order 12196 and this part and, (b) Implemented effectively in all agency field activities.

29 C.F.R. § 1960.80 Secretary's evaluations of agency occupational safety and health programs.

(a) In accordance with section 1-401(h), the Secretary shall develop a comprehensive program for evaluating an agency's occupational safety and health program. To accomplish this, the Secretary shall conduct: (1) A complete and extensive evaluation of all elements of an agency's occupational safety and health program on a regular basis; (2) Special studies of limited areas of an agency's occupational safety and health program as deemed necessary by the Secretary; and (3) Field reviews and scheduled inspections of agency workplaces as deemed necessary by the Secretary. (b) The Secretary shall develop and distribute to Federal agencies detailed information on the Department of Labor's evaluation program. The information shall include, but is not limited to: (1) The major program elements included in a complete and extensive evaluation of an agency's occupational safety and health program; (2) The methods and factors used to determine the effectiveness of each element of an agency's program; (3) The factors used to define “large” or “more hazardous” Federal agencies, establishments, or operations; (4) The procedures for conducting evaluations including field visits and scheduled inspections; and (5) The reporting format for agency heads in submitting annual summaries of their self-evaluation programs. (c) Prior to the initiation of an agency evaluation, the Department of Labor will review the annual agency self-evaluation summary report. The Secretary will then develop a program evaluation plan before the initiation of an agency evaluation. A copy of the plan shall be furnished to the agency to be evaluated at the time of the notification of the evaluation. (d) To facilitate the evaluation process and to insure full understanding of the procedures to be followed and the support required from the agency, the Secretary, or the Secretary's representative, shall conduct an opening conference with the agency head or designee. At the opening conference, the Secretary's authority and evaluation plan will be explained. (e) The agency evaluation should be completed within 90 calendar days of the date of the opening conference. (f) A report of the evaluation shall be submitted to the agency head by the Secretary within 90 calendar days from the date of the closing conference. (g) Agency heads shall respond to the evaluation report within 60 calendar days of receipt of the report.

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