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Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration Inspections and Evaluations Highlights Highlights of
Report Number: 2011-IE-R002 to the
Internal Revenue Service Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support. WHY TIGTA DID THIS STUDY This
project was initiated to determine whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
takes appropriate steps to identify, correct or reduce the impact of hazards
in the workplace that could cause individuals physical harm. The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires the head of each
agency to “provide safe and healthful places and conditions of employment.” WHAT TIGTA RECOMMENDED TIGTA recommended that the Chief, Agency‑Wide Shared
Services fully implement the Graphic Database Interface system or employ a
similar means to effectively collect and analyze safety inspection data. The Chief, Agency-Wide Share Services,
should also increase management oversight to ensure safety inspections are
completed timely and effectively. In
their response to the report, IRS officials stated the Chief, Agency-Wide Shared Services, has begun to
enhance the data reporting capabilities of the Graphic Database Interface system and implement a plan to improve its use. Furthermore, the Chief, Agency‑Wide
Shared Services will implement an action plan for improving communication,
and oversight and management of the safety inspection program. Particularly, the safety and health staff will
ensure safety inspections are completed on time and entered into Graphic Database Interface
system. |
Issued
on March 3, 2011 ADDITIONAL
OVERSIGHT COULD IMPROVE THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM WHAT
TIGTA FOUND TIGTA
found that the IRS’s occupational
safety and health program includes policies and guidelines, program
evaluations, and systems designed to report and document injuries and
illnesses, and track hazards in the workplace. The IRS also developed the
Graphic Database Interface system to document, track and analyze the safety
inspections results. As evidenced by
the decline in the number of accident and injury claims, the IRS has a
proactive approach to minimize workplace hazards. However,
the IRS occupational safety program needs additional oversight in the areas
of data management and program enforcement.
This includes enhancing the capabilities of the Graphic Database Interface system and increasing
oversight to ensure the safety inspections are completed timely and
effectively. In
the course of the review, TIGTA found that the Graphic Database Interface system was not fully
operational nor was it being
consistently used by IRS employees involved in the safety review process. Additionally, were no controls in place to
ensure safety inspections were completed effectively and timely. Our inspections of a sample of IRS
facilities identified a number of safety hazards. READ
THE FULL REPORT To view the report,
including the scope, methodology, and full IRS response, go to: http://www.treas.gov/tigta/iereports/2011reports/2011ier002fr.html Email
Address: inquiries@tigta.treas.gov Phone
Number: 202-622-6500 Web Site: http://www.tigta.gov |