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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers a free
consultation service that allows employers to find out about potential hazards
at their worksites, improve their occupational safety and health management
systems, and even qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA
inspections. Targeted for smaller businesses, this confidential safety and
health consultation program is completely separate from the OSHA inspection
effort, and no citations are issued or penalties proposed. The only obligation
is to commit the company to correcting serious job safety and health hazards.
The service is confidential. Individual names, company names and any
information provided about the workplace, plus any unsafe or unhealthful
working conditions that the consultant uncovers, will not be reported routinely
to the OSHA inspection staff. The only obligation on the part of the company
will be a commitment to correcting serious job safety and health hazards prior
to the actual visit and a commitment to carry out corrective measures in a
timely manner.
The process
The company requests the consultation by telephone call or letter to the local
OSHA office, and a date and time is established for the OSHA consultant to
visit the workplace to evaluate the specific issue of concern.
During the visit, the consultant will conduct an opening conference and a
walk-through of the operation. The consultant will examine conditions in the
workplace, talk with workers, and discuss the applicable OSHA standards for any
issues identified. During the closing conference, the consultant will review
detailed findings and identify what needs to improve, provide possible
solutions, and identify what is done right. A comprehensive consultation also
includes:
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Appraisal of all mechanical and environmental hazards and physical work
practices.
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Appraisal of the present job safety and health program, or the establishment of
one.
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A written report of recommendations and agreements.
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Training and assistance with implementing recommendations.
The result
Following the closing conference, the consultant will send a detailed, written
report explaining the findings and confirming any abatement periods agreed
upon. Ultimately, OSHA requires hazard abatement so that each consultation
visit achieves its objective - effective worker protection. If the company
fails to eliminate or control identified serious hazards (or an imminent
danger) according to the plan and within the limits agreed upon or an
agreed-upon extension, the situation must be referred from consultation to an
OSHA enforcement office for appropriate action. This, however, has occurred
only rarely in the past.
The consultant will help the company recognize hazards, suggest general
approaches or options for solving a safety or health problem, identify kinds of
help available, provide a written report summarizing findings, assist in
developing or maintaining an effective safety and health program, provide
training and education, and recommend a one-year exclusion from OSHA programmed
inspections, once program criteria are met.
The consultant will not issue citations or propose penalties for violations of
OSHA standards, report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff, nor
guarantee that a workplace will pass an OSHA inspection.
The listing of OSHA Offices can be found at
www.osha.gov under OSHA Consultation Program Directory - State Listing.
A complete listing of all OSHA consultation programs may be found in the OSHA
booklet #3047 (1996 revised), Consultation Services for the Employer, and on
the OSHA Web site under Directory. State OSHA consultation programs generally
are listed in the state government section of the telephone directory under
Department of Labor and Industry.
COPYRIGHT ©2003, ISO Services Properties, Inc.
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