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The MOSH Strategic Plan presents MOSH's approach for supporting the OSHA Strategic Management Plan and the State Administration's Management for Results. It describes priorities for the 2008-2012 timeframe. The plan serves as a mechanism for communicating a shared set of expectations regarding the results that MOSH expects to achieve and the strategies that it will use. In cooperation with OSHA Region III, MOSH may adjust the plan as circumstances change, use it to develop the annual performance plan, budget submissions, report on progress in annual performance reports and hold supervisors and staff accountable for achieving the goals and outcomes.

Consistent with the OSHA Strategic Management Plan, the MOSH program focuses on serious hazards and dangerous workplaces. The plan includes strategies that emphasize:

• Exercising strong, fair and effective enforcement;
• Expanding partnerships and voluntary programs; and
• Expanding outreach, education and compliance assistance

MOSH MISSION

MOSH's mission is to promote and assure workplace safety and health while reducing workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

MOSH achieves its mission through various means, including inspections, consultation services, compliance assistance, outreach, education, and cooperative programs.

By accomplishing our mission MOSH saves lives, enhances the quality of life of working men and women, and contributes to the economic vitality of the State.

VISION FOR 2008 THROUGH 2012

The MOSH plan in its entirety conveys our vision for the next several years; however the following vision is included to summarize what MOSH expects to accomplish by implementing our Strategic Plan.

INTRODUCTION

MOSH conducted an assessment of current programs and strategies to determine if new or different priorities were appropriate for the development of a new strategic plan. By incorporating sections of OSHA's 2007-2011 Strategic Management Plan and applying the data provided by the assessment, MOSH established a foundation on which our 2008-2012 Strategic Goals were constructed.

MOSH PROGRAMS

MOSH is comprised of a workforce of 94 dedicated State employees. Its annual budget (FY07) is approximately $7,884,000. MOSH operates its programs under State law with OSHA approval, matching grants, and oversight to ensure we operate programs that are "at least as effective" as OSHA. MOSH retains the flexibility to tailor our programs to address Maryland local issues and concerns.

Since the development of the last Strategic Plan, MOSH has realized the value and importance of our compliance assistance and cooperative programs, established alliances, and worked to increase our outreach to minority and small employers.

Programs for ensuring and improving workplace safety and health in the private and public sectors are:

• Enforcement - MOSH conducts a strong, fair and effective enforcement program that includes inspecting worksites and issuing citations and penalties for violations of health and safety standards. Priorities for inspections include reports of imminent danger, fatalities, catastrophes, accidents and employee complaints, investigation of whistleblower activities, referrals from other government agencies and targeted areas of concern.
   
• On-site Consultation Programs - MOSH offers a free consultation service, targeted at small businesses in high-hazard industries, that assists employers in identifying and correcting workplace hazards and establishing safety and health management systems.
   
• Cooperative Programs/Compliance Assistance - MOSH enters into voluntary relationships (VPP, SHARP, Alliances, and Cooperative Compliance Partnerships) with employers to encourage, assist, and recognize their efforts to increase worker safety and health. These programs promote effective safety and health management and leverage the agency's resources to share best practices with secondary and tertiary contractors.
   
• Outreach, Training and Education, and Information Services - MOSH develops and provides a broad array of outreach products and services, education and training materials and courses that promote occupational safety and health.

MOSH's STRATEGIC DIRECTION

While there is always room for improvement, MOSH's programs have served the State well.

The MOSH program remains committed to protecting workers. Over the past several years however, federal OSHA has taken a more balanced approach to the mission of safety and health, recognizing that the majority of employers take their responsibility to provide a safe and healthful work environment seriously. MOSH will build on this balanced approach. Consultation, education and cooperative programs/compliance assistance provide the support needed to help employers and workers achieve a safe and healthful work environment, while strong, fair and effective enforcement of safety and health regulations help ensure that employers address safety and health issues. These programs will be included and modified as necessary to improve MOSH's effectiveness and address emerging issues.

MOSH's Strategic Plan was developed within the overall framework of the 2007-2011 OSHA Strategic Management Plan. In support of the OSHA plan, MOSH has set specific targets for the reduction of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses over the plan's period. MOSH will also track results in specific priority areas over the planning period. These areas of emphasis will be analyzed and revised each year based on the results of operations and emerging issues that demand attention.

MOSH has established three specific supporting goals to guide its efforts over the next several years. They are:

1. Improve workplace safety and health through compliance assistance and enforcement of occupational safety and health regulations;
2. Promote a safety and health culture through compliance assistance, cooperative programs and strong leadership; and
3. Secure public confidence through excellence in the development and delivery of MOSH programs and services.

Our 5- year Strategic Plan with Performance Goals and Outcomes is shown below.

Strategic Plan 2008-2012

Strategy 1-2: Reduce the DART rates in industries that are under MOSH jurisdiction to 2.1 by 2012.

How Progress in Achieving these Goals Will be Assessed on an Annual Basis

Strategy 2-1: Add 10 new Recognition Programs by 2012.

Strategy 2-2: Add 15 new Partnerships and Alliances by 2012.

Strategy 2-3: Increase attendance in MOSH outreach and training programs by 3% annually.

Strategy 3-1: Initiate inspections of fatalities and catastrophes within one working day of notification in at least 95% of the cases.

Strategy 3-2: Initiate inspections of serious complaints within five working days of notification in at least 95% of the cases.

Strategy 3-3: Achieve an overall satisfaction rating of at least 90% of polled responses from the MOSH website users.