OSHA Resources for Small Entities

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are nearly 29 million small businesses—defined as firms with fewer than 500 employees—in the United States. Small businesses account for about 48% of private sector employment.

Regulatory compliance can impose a great burden on small businesses, consuming a disproportionate amount of their resources as compared to larger companies. In order to offset the costs of compliance, federal law and regulatory agencies offer a number of resources that small businesses can take advantage of.

Safety and the Small Employer

When it comes to safety and health, small businesses—a definition that includes not only for-profit firms but also small governments and nonprofits—face unique challenges. Smaller establishments experience a disproportionate number of fatalities when compared with larger firms, and they have higher rates of serious injuries. They typically have smaller safety budgets and, in many cases, especially with the smallest of the small, no trained safety staff. Instead, in many small businesses, one individual may wear several hats. For example, the Human Resources specialist may double as the safety coordinator.

That can lead to things falling through the cracks. In very small companies, fatality rates are generally low; but in small firms with more than 20 employees, rates increase dramatically—an indication, perhaps, that one person can only do so much.

OSHA Resources for Small Entities

In keeping with the agency’s philosophy that safety is good business, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides small business outreach services and assistance, including:

• VPP Mentoring—Small firms wishing to participate in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs) can be matched with and mentored by a VPP site that will share its safety and health experience and expertise.
• Publications—OSHA has many published materials, including its Small Business Safety and Health Management Series. These cover many compliance topics, for example, Assessing the Need for Personal Protective Equipment: A Guide for Small Business Employers (OSHA 3151); Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Workers from Amputations (OSHA 3170); and A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry (OSHA 3150).
• Small Business Liaison—OSHA provides a liaison to answer questions on small business issues. The small business liaison can be reached by phone at 202-693-2213, or see Small Business under the Index on OSHA’s website.
• Small Business Development Centers—OSHA works with SBA’s Small Business Development Centers program to provide information on OSHA to small business owners. There is at least one center in every state—a total of 1,000 nationwide—that provides services to small businesses.
• Regional Diverse Workforce/Limited English Proficiency Coordinators—Each OSHA region has a Diverse Workforce/Limited English Proficiency Coordinator to assist small businesses, trade associations, union locals, community and faith-based groups, and others with outreach, education, and training to Spanish-speaking and other diverse workers.

OSHA’s Consultation Service

One of the most effective ways OSHA reaches out to small businesses is through its On-Site Consultation Program. Funded by the federal government and run by the states (often through colleges and universities), this free service sends trained consultants to businesses to help identify potential hazards and help improve their safety management systems. It is primarily for small employers (250 or fewer on-site or fewer than 500 corporatewide) in high-hazard industries.

The program is confidential, completely separate from OSHA enforcement, and does not involve issuance of citations or penalties. Any information shared about the workplace—and any problems identified by the consultant—are not reported to OSHA inspection personnel. While there is no cost for the service, the employer must correct any serious hazards that are discovered.

You can find the small business consultation program for your state here.