Portable Sanitation Association International

Association Insight, April 28, 2021

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ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION APRIL 28, 2021 Page 2 Continued on page 13 OSHA Offers Free On-Site Consultation Program…continued from page 1 Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. According to an OSHA report, nearly 25,000 businesses with 100 employees or fewer took advantage of this free program in the years 2012–2016. 1 Process and Benefits Using a no-cost consultation service largely funded by the OSHA, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their safety and health programs, and even qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections. State governments deliver the service through well-trained professional staff. Most consultations take place on-site, though 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. Using OSHA's no-cost consultation service lowers injury and illness rates, ultimately saving both employers and employees from the cost of accidents while raising morale and increasing productivity rates. 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 to carry out in a timely manner. What Happens During an On-Site Consultation Visit? Because consultation is a voluntary service, you must request it. Locate your state's Consultation Program's contact using OSHA's Consultation Directory. The consultant will discuss your specific needs and set up a visit date based on your priority, your work schedule, and time the consultant needs to prepare to serve you. OSHA encourages a complete review of your firm's safety and health situation; however, if you wish, you may limit the visit to one or more specific problems. The process includes several steps: • Opening conference. When the consultant arrives at your worksite for the scheduled visit, he or she will first meet with you to briefly review the consultant's role and the obligation you incur as an employer. 1 For more information, see Benefits of the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program: An Economic Analysis. On-Site Consultants Will On-Site Consultants Will Not Help you recognize hazards in your workplace. Issue citations or propose penalties for OSHA standards violations. Suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health problem. Identify kinds of help available if you need further assistance. Report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff. Provide you with a written report summarizing findings. Help you develop or maintain an effective safety and health program. Guarantee that your workplace will "pass" an OSHA inspection. Provide training and education for you and your employees.

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