OSHA’s Consultation Program provides free, confidential safety and health advice to small and medium-sized businesses. You must request consultation services. Locate your state’s program contact information in OSHA’s Consultation Directory. Consultants will visit your workplace, identify hazards, and suggest ways to improve safety and health. Consultations are confidential.
If serious hazards exist, you must address them. OSHA explains employers’ obligations when hazards are found. The program is separate from OSHA’s inspection and enforcement efforts. Consultations don’t normally trigger OSHA inspections or fines. However, serious hazards must be addressed.
OSHA aims "to ensure safe and healthy working conditions by setting and enforcing standards while providing training, outreach, education and assistance." OSHA has approximately 2,400 inspectors covering over 8 million workplaces and 130 million workers. Inspections ensure compliance with standards and can be triggered by incidents, complaints or referrals. Fines are assessed for violations.
Consultants examine your safety plans, policies and procedures to identify strengths, shortcomings and needed improvements. The goal is compliance with regulations and overall employee safety. Implementing an effective system can be difficult for small/medium businesses. On-site consultation offers guidance on protecting workers by addressing hazards. The program has aided businesses since 1975.
Any business employing workers should comply with OSHA to keep employees safe. OSHA sets and enforces concrete, actionable standards. Compliance protects your most valuable asset – your employees.
What makes an OSHA consultation visit different from an OSHA compliance visit?
OSHA’s Consultation Program provides free, confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses. Consultants visit workplaces, identify hazards, and suggest safety improvements. The program is separate from OSHA’s inspections. Consultations are confidential and don’t normally trigger inspections or fines. However, serious hazards must be addressed.
Consultants examine safety plans, policies and procedures to identify strengths, shortcomings and needed improvements. Implementing an effective system can be difficult for small/medium businesses. On-site consultation offers guidance on protecting workers by addressing hazards.
Compliance with OSHA keeps employees safe. OSHA sets and enforces concrete, actionable standards. Compliance protects employees.