Using OSHA’s on-site consultation service can help identify potential hazards, improve safety and health management systems, and even qualify you for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections.
OSHA’s on-site consultation service is delivered by state governments free of charge, using well-trained professional staff. As the name implies, most consultations take place on-site, although limited services away from the worksite are available.
Primarily targeted for smaller businesses, this safety and health consultation program is completely separate from the OSHA inspection effort. In addition, no citations are issued or penalties proposed.
It’s confidential, too. Your name, your firm’s name, and any information you provide about your workplace, plus any unsafe or unhealthful working conditions that the consultant uncovers, will not be reported routinely to the OSHA inspection staff.
Your only obligation will be to correct serious job safety and health hazards—a commitment which you are expected to make prior to the actual visit and carry out in a timely manner.
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How to Get Started
Because consultation is a voluntary activity, you must request it. Your telephone call or letter sets the consulting machinery in motion (contact your state’s occupational safety and health agency or call OSHA at 800-321-OSHA).
The consultant will discuss your specific needs with you and set up a visit date based on the priority assigned to your request, your work schedule, and the time needed for the consultant to adequately prepare to serve you.
OSHA encourages a complete review of your organization’s safety and health situation. However, if you wish you may limit the visit to one or more specific problems.
Opening Conference
When the consultant arrives at your worksite for the scheduled visit, he or she will first meet with you in an opening conference to briefly review the consultant’s role and the obligation you incur as an employer.
Walk Through
Together, you and the consultant will examine conditions in your workplace. OSHA strongly encourages maximum employee participation in the walk-through. Better informed and more alert employees can more easily work with you to identify and correct potential injury and illness hazards in your workplace. Talking with employees during the walk-through helps the consultant identify and judge the nature and extent of specific hazards.
The consultant will study your entire workplace or the specific operations you designate and discuss the applicable OSHA standards. The consultant will also point out other safety or health risks that might not be cited under OSHA standards, but nevertheless may pose safety or health risks to your employees. And the consultant may suggest and even provide other measures such as self-inspection and safety and health training you and your employees can use to prevent future hazardous situations.
A comprehensive consultation also includes:
- Appraisal of all mechanical and environmental hazards and physical work practices
- Appraisal of the present job safety and health program or establishment of one
- A conference with management on findings
- A written report of recommendations and agreements
- Training and assistance with implementing recommendations
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Closing Conference
The consultant will then review detailed findings with you in a closing conference. You will learn not only what you need to improve, but also what you are doing right. At that time you can discuss problems, possible solutions and abatement periods to eliminate or control any serious hazards identified during the walk-through.
Follow Up
Following the closing conference, the consultant will send you a detailed written report explaining the findings and confirming any abatement periods agreed upon. Consultants may also contact you from time to time to check your progress. You, of course, may always contact them for assistance.
What Consultants Will Do
- Help you recognize hazards in your workplace
- Suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health problem
- Identify kinds of help available if you need further assistance
- Provide you a written report summarizing findings
- Assist you to develop or maintain an effective safety and health program
- Provide training and education for you and your employees
- Recommend you for a one-year exclusion from OSHA programmed inspections, once program criteria are met
What They Won’t Do
- Issue citations or propose penalties for violations of OSHA standards
- Report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff
- Guarantee that your workplace will “pass” an OSHA inspection