Specialty Fabrics Review February 2023 - 45

the same. How many additional sales
dollars do you have to produce to pay
for $50,000 in violations? Do the math.
The details
Here is how the consultation service
works. First, it should be noted that
the consultation side is not allowed to
discuss your case with the enforcement
side. In most states, they are completely
separate entities. In fact, many states
contract with local universities to
conduct the consulting services.
* Step One: Contact your local
consultative service program either
by phone or email. The best way to
locate your local office is to look on
the OSHA.gov website and click on
the " Help and Resources " tab. You
will find a link to the Consultation
Services program. Again, each state
handles this a little differently. Once
you have made contact, you set up an
appointment for the initial meeting.
* Step Two: This is the on-site visit. The
consultant will explain the program
and what they will be looking for
during the visit. They will explain
their separation from the enforcement
side of OSHA and clarify expectations
from both sides. Then they will
complete the walk-through survey
and gather information for their
report. At the close of the day, both
sides will discuss reasonable timelines
for cleaning up the issues discovered
during the walk-through.
* Step Three: The consultants will
formalize the report and document
the agreed-upon action steps. They
may also provide some research and
statistical data to help you justify
the work you are doing to make
your workplace safe. By the way, this
information can be very helpful when
negotiating insurance rates.
* Step Four: The company must correct
any situation that poses imminent
danger or is a severe OSHA violation.
Other recommendations must be
implemented within the agreed-upon
timeline. Hazards must be posted
where employees can see them until
the problem is corrected. Part of
the enforcement exemption is the
understanding that you will comply
with the recommendations.
Be proactive
The best thing about this program is
that you will be providing a safe work
environment for the people who work
with you and for you. As a bonus, the
enforcement people can't touch you for
at least a year. So, here is a little advice.
A sizable accident or a string of claims
can trigger an OSHA audit. If you
think you may be getting a visit, call
the consulting services folks.
The only catch is that you must
clean up what the consultants find. But
this is a small price to pay considering
the alternative.
No decent business owner wants to
see his or her employees get injured
on the job. When someone goes
down, the rest of the team has to step
up and cover the work. Additionally,
we owners have typically developed
relationships with the people who
have made us successful over the
years. They become a part of our
family. It is unsettling to the whole
team when a member of that family
sustains a serious injury-especially
if it was avoidable.
I know the thought of inviting
OSHA into your facility is slightly
uncomfortable, but this is one
government program I would take a
hard look at. If anything, it might just
prompt you to become more safety
conscious in the future. Good luck.
Jason Bader is principal of The Distribution
Team, based out of Portland, Ore. For details,
visit distributionteam.com.
Want more? We have it!
Search OSHA at
SpecialtyFabricsReview.com
SpecialtyFabricsReview.com 45
OSHA's free
(helpful!) advice
OSHA's On-Site Consultation
Program offers no-cost,
confidential occupational
safety and health services
to small- and medium-sized
businesses in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia and
several U.S. territories. On-site
consultation services are
separate from enforcement
and do not result in penalties
or citations. 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.
For more information, visit
osha.gov/consultation.
http://www.OSHA.gov http://www.osha.gov/consultation http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com http://www.distributionteam.com http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com
Specialty Fabrics Review February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Specialty Fabrics Review February 2023
