Dios Y Yo

OSHA Assistance, Services, and Programs

How can OSHA help me?

OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of

programs, including assistance about safety and health

programs, state plans, workplace consultations, Voluntary

Protection Programs, strategic partnerships, training and

education, and more.

How does safety and health program

management assistance help employers

and employees?

Effective management of worker safety and health

protection is a decisive factor in reducing the extent and

severity of work-related injuries and illnesses and their

related costs. In fact, an effective safety and health program

forms the basis of good worker protection and can save time

and money—about $4 for every dollar spent—and increase

productivity.

To assist employers and employees in developing effective

safety and health systems, OSHA published recommended

Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines,

(Federal Register 54(18):3908–3916, January 26, 1989).

These voluntary guidelines can be applied to all worksites

covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four general elements that are

critical to the development of a successful safety and health

management program:

• Management leadership and employee involvement;

• Worksite analysis;

• Hazard prevention and control; and

• Safety and health training.

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The guidelines recommend specific actions under each

of these general elements to achieve an effective safety and

health program. The Federal Register notice is available

online at www.osha.gov.

What are state plans?

State plans are OSHA-approved job safety and health

programs operated by individual states or territories instead

of Federal OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health

Act of 1970 (OSH Act) encourages states to develop and

operate their own job safety and health plans and permits

state enforcement of OSHA standards if the state has an

approved plan. Once OSHA approves a state plan, it funds

50 percent of the program’s operating costs. State plans

must provide standards and enforcement programs, as

well as voluntary compliance activities, that are at least as

effective as those of Federal OSHA.

There are 26 state plans: 23 cover both private and

public (state and local government) employment, and

3 (Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York) cover only the

public sector. For more information on state plans, see

the listing at the end of this publication, or visit OSHA’s

website at www.osha.gov.

How can consultation

assistance help employers?

In addition to helping employers identify and correct

specific hazards, OSHA’s consultation service provides free,

onsite assistance in developing and implementing effective

workplace safety and health management systems that

emphasize the prevention of worker injuries and illnesses.

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Comprehensive consultation assistance provided by

OSHA includes a hazard survey of the worksite and an

appraisal of all aspects of the employer’s existing safety and

health management system. In addition, the service offers

assistance to employers in developing and implementing an

effective safety and health management system. Employers

also may receive training and education services, as well as

limited assistance away from the worksite.

Who can get consultation

assistance and what does it cost?

Consultation assistance is available to small employers

(with fewer than 250 employees at a fixed site and no more

than 500 corporatewide) who want help in establishing and

maintaining a safe and healthful workplace.

Funded largely by OSHA, the service is provided at

no cost to the employer. Primarily developed for smaller

employers with more hazardous operations, the consultation

service is delivered by state governments employing

professional safety and health consultants. No penalties

are proposed or citations issued for hazards identified by

the consultant. The employer’s only obligation is to correct

all identified serious hazards within the agreed-upon

correction time frame.

Can OSHA assure privacy to an employer

who asks for consultation assistance?

OSHA provides consultation assistance to the employer

with the assurance that his or her name and firm and any

information about the workplace will not be routinely

reported to OSHA enforcement staff.

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Can an employer be cited for violations

after receiving consultation assistance?

If an employer fails to eliminate or control a serious hazard

within the agreed-upon time frame, the Consultation Project

Manager must refer the situation to the OSHA enforcement

office for appropriate action. This is a rare occurrence, however,

since employers request the service for the expressed purpose

of identifying and fixing hazards in their workplaces.

Does OSHA provide any incentives

for seeking consultation assistance?

Yes. Under the consultation program, certain exemplary

employers may request participation in OSHA’s Safety and

Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Eligibility

for participation in SHARP includes, but is not limited to,

receiving a full-service, comprehensive consultation visit,

correcting all identified hazards, and developing an effective

safety and health management system.

Employers accepted into SHARP may receive an

exemption from programmed inspections (not complaint or

accident investigation inspections) for a period of 1 year

initially, or 2 years upon renewal.

For

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