On-Site Consultation

Using the free and confidential on-site consultation service largely funded by the federal OSHA, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their occupational safety and health management systems, and even qualify for a 1-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections. 

The service is delivered at your workplace by state governments using well-trained professional staff Most consultations take place on-site, though limited services away from the worksite are available. 

Primarily targeted for smaller businesses, this safety and health consultation program is completely separate from OSHA s enforcement efforts. It is also confidential. No inspections are triggered by using the consultation program, and no citations are issued or penalties proposed. 

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 routinely be reported to the OSHA enforcement staff 

Your only obligation will be to commit to correcting serious job safety and health hazards discovered—a commitment that you are expected to make prior to the actual consultation visit. If hazards are discovered, the consultant will work with you to ensure they are corrected in a reasonable timeframe agreed upon by all parties. 

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Anthony Forestry Products is a fourth generation, family-owned lumber and wood products company. Its laminated wood products plant in El Dorado, Arkansas, employs a staff of 80. The company initiated efforts to improve its safety practices and, in 2001, began working with OSHA s On-Site Consultation Program on a voluntary basis to put in place a working safety and health management system. By 2002, the site was accepted into the SHARP. As a result of this work, the company s workers compensation loss rate (in losses per 1,000 of payroll) decreased from 18.20 in 1998 to 0.30 in 2007. 

In summary, information is readily available to help employers identify which employees should receive safety and health information, education, and training, and who should receive it before others. Employers can request assistance in obtaining information by contacting such organizations as OSHA Area Offices, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, OSHA-approved state programs, state on-site consultation programs, the OSHA Office of Training and Education, or local safety councils. 

Designed to prevent skin contamination. If radiation is detected on site, consult an experienced radiation expert and evacuate personnel until the radiation hazard has been evaluated. 

Illinois On-site Consultation Illinois Department of Labor 900 S. Spring St. 

DOSH ONSITE CONSULTATION.shtm New York State Department of Labor On-site Consultation... 

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation OSHA On-Site Consultation 30 W. Spring St. 

In order to provide businesses with information about OSHA requirements, free consultation assistance is available to employers. Representatives of OSHA will assist in identifying specific and potential hazards which may exist in the workplace. They will also assist in implementing health and safety programs. To obtain a list of free OSHA publications as well as information regarding on-site consultation, interested individuals should contact ... 

OSHA cTools for Developing Customized Programs Sample Programs from State On-Site Consultation Programs... 

A number of on-site consultation programs provide collections of sample safety and health programs on their websites, including those listed below. The on-site consultation programs are run by the states with funding from OSHA. If you are in a state with an OSHA approved state program, please check with your state agency. 

These sample programs provide examples of written programs on various workplace safety and health topics. They are not intended to supersede the requirements in OSHA standards. Employers should consult the applicable OSHA standards when developing their own customized programs that are tailored to their workplace. Contact your state on-site consultation program to request help in developing customized programs. 

OSHA s free On-site Consultation services www.osha.gov/consultation Training resources www.osha.gov/dte/index.html... 

When a workplace safety issue, such as hearing loss, reaches the highest levels of OSHA leadership and decision-making, you can be sure the agency will use a variety of strategies — enforcement, its on-site consultation ser-... 

Editor s note and instructions The following form (OSHA Form 33) is used by OSHA s On-Site Consultation Service to review an employer s safety and health management program. It may also be helpful as a management tool to perform a self assessment. ... 

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