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COUNTY COMMENT %u2022 April 2025 10Etzold, Public Sector Supervisor, with KDOL indicated that on average public entities make up about 30% of the locations that they inspect. They try to inspect facilities on a 3- to 5-year cycle. Once they complete an inspection, they will issue a report and list any findings that need to be addressed or corrected. Respondents may, within 15 days of receiving a report, appeal any of the findings. Otherwise, respondents generally have up to 60 days to make a written response to address deficiencies identified. Shane indicated that fines are rarely implemented to public agencies unless a respondent fails to make a written response. KSA 44-636 does grant authority to the Secretary of Labor in extreme cases to %u201corder the immediate taking of any steps necessary to avoid, correct or remove such imminent danger and prohibit the employment or presence of any individual in locations or under conditions where such imminent danger exists%u2026%u201dWhat might be typical findings cited by KDOL following an inspection? Shane indicates that it varies widely. So as a public entity, it certainly helps to have a pretty good handle on general workplace safety to help ensure that your agency will not become subject to unsatisfactory findings and more importantly to ensure that your employees are not exposed to unsafe work conditions. Shane shared this example, if a KDOL inspector comes to your shop and notices a paint booth, they are likely going to check to see if it still in use, then check for condition and functionality of the booth, operating procedures and availability and condition of required PPE and training records for employees that perform painting or are exposed to painting operations. According to information published on KWORCC%u2019s (Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties) website, they %u201care consistently seeing counties being cited for not having policies and training for five specific areas of employee safety%u201d across multiple departments. The five specific areas include: Emergency Action Plans, Hazard Communications, PPE, Bloodborne Pathogens and Lock-out/Tag-out. Otherwise, I imagine KDOL are probably going to be observing %u201cgood housekeeping%u201d practices. Are walkways kept clear and trip hazards properly mitigated? Are ingress/egress doors marked and kept clear? Are any hazardous working conditions properly mitigated by engineering or administrative controls? Are machine guards in place? Are safety railings in place and secure on catwalks or elevated platforms or around pits? Are lock-out/tag-out devices available and procedures being followed when powered equipment or electrified systems are being serviced? Are SDS reports available for immediate access to employees for any products or chemicals used or stored at your facilities? These are some examples that come to the top of my mind, but there are much more than the few examples cited.Keeping your employees safe and ensuring that they are protected from hazardous conditions in the workplace should be a major part of your operations but does not have to be overwhelming. You have access to great resources for providing workplace assessments and safety training sessions through KDOL. In addition, your county%u2019s workers compensation insurance company is required to provide accident prevention programs if you ask. Pursuant to KSA 44-5,104, any insurance company operating in Kansas that provides %u201cworkers compensation insurance coverage%u201d is required to %u201cprovide accident prevention programs upon request of the covered employer.%u201d The programs in general are to include accident prevention services required by the nature of the operations of the policy holder. The accident prevention services are to %u201cinclude surveys, recommendations, training programs, consultations, analyses of accident causes, industrial hygiene and industrial health services to implement the program of accident prevention services.%u201d So, take advantage continued