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Consultation Frequently Asked Questions
What are OR-OSHA consultative services? The Occupational Safety and Health Consultation program is a confidential, non-regulatory service available to Oregon employers. OR-OSHA's experienced, professional consultants can evaluate your current safety, health and ergonomic programs and help you identify hazards in your workplace. Is there a cost for OR-OSHA Consultation services? The program is funded by premium assessments from workers' compensation insurance carriers, with no additional cost to the employer. What is the relationship between the OR-OSHA Consultation Program and OR-OSHA enforcement activities? The programs are separate from each other. The Consultation Program has been directed by the Oregon Legislature to ensure employer confidentiality. It is OR-OSHA policy that the Enforcement Section will not conduct scheduled inspections at locations where an appointment has been scheduled with a consultant for the seven days prior to the opening visit and for 60 days after the date on the final report, 30 days for mobile sites such as logging, construction and agricultural labor housing consultations. How can OR-OSHA consultative services help me? OR-OSHA consultants can provide many free services, including:
Does my business qualify for OR-OSHA assistance? All employers in the state of Oregon may request OR-OSHA services. I'm a small employer. Do I need to comply with safety and health standards? Yes. All employers are required by law to provide a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. OR-OSHA has a special safety and health program for small businesses. What will the consultant want to see? You are in charge! We can do as little or as much as you wish. How long will a consultation take? Depending on the size of your facility and the scope of the evaluation requested, the consultation may vary from a couple of hours to a full day or more. What are my obligations if I request an OR-OSHA consultation? When you request an OR-OSHA consultation, we assume you agree to correct any serious hazards or imminently dangerous situations that might be identified. You will receive a report listing the hazards identified along with our recommendations for corrections. Of course, we encourage you to correct the hazards to make your worksite a safe place for your employees. How much will it cost to correct identified hazards? Our experienced consultants will offer suggestions and options for eliminating hazards. They can also suggest resources available to you. The potential long-term and hidden costs associated with workplace injuries are often much greater than the short-term costs of correcting hazards. If I make the corrections recommended by OR-OSHA Consultation, does that guarantee that my company will pass an OR-OSHA inspection? No. However, if you implement the recommendations suggested and support a strong safety and health culture among your employees, you will be less likely to experience worksite injuries and illnesses and more likely to have a worksite that is in compliance with OR-OSHA's rules. OR-OSHA Enforcement is not bound by consultation findings, and consultants cannot guarantee they will identify all OR-OSHA violations. If my company utilizes OR-OSHA Consultation, will OR-OSHA Enforcement be notified? No. State administrative rules governing the funding of the OR-OSHA Consultation Program guarantee confidentiality for participating employers. Will a consultant visit my competitors? Participation in the OR-OSHA consultation program is completely voluntary. If your competitor calls for assistance, we will provide it, but your OR-OSHA participation, hazards, and business processes will not be discussed with any other employer. What are the benefits of an OR-OSHA consultation? An OR-OSHA consultation can help you:
The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)
was developed by Oregon OSHA to recognize companies that have learned to learn to manage their own occupational safety and health programs more effectively.
Oregon companies can take advantage of Oregon OSHA Consultation's expertise while they learn effective safety and health management techniques.
SHARP is open to Oregon employers (private sector or state or local government entities) who have been
in business for more than one year, regardless of size or type of business. Employers who are recognized for their second-year SHARP certificate
may be exempt from programmed OR-OSHA inspections for one year. Subsequent SHARP renewals include additional one-year exemptions, until a worksite graduates
from the SHARP program. How can my organization or peers learn more about the OR-OSHA Consultation program? OR-OSHA consultants and representatives are available to present program information to the general public at appropriate safety-related forums such as meetings, trainings, business seminars or safety/health conferences. We welcome the opportunity to share our services with business groups, trade associations, chambers of commerce, labor organizations and other groups interested in improving workplace health, safety and ergonomics. Contact us for more information. |
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