There has long been some debate about how facilities should treat temporary workers when it comes to safety and the requirements established by OSHA. In a statement made by Dr. David Michaels, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational safety and health said “Host employers need to treat temporary workers as they treat existing employees. Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the employee, and are therefore jointly responsible for temp employee’s safety and health. It is essential that both employers comply with all relevant OSHA requirements.” Let’s examine some of the details in the OSHA requirements for temporary workers.

• Establishment of responsibilities. OSHA recommends that before entering into a staffing agreement that host companies and temporary staffing agencies outline the requirements in their initial contracts. This will set the stage for their long term working relationship and not allow for an ambiguity in the responsibility for temp safety.

 

• Joint responsibility. While each individual case will be determined by its own merits, staffing companies and their clients are considered equally responsible for the safety of temporary workers on the jobsite. This means that even though the staffing administrators cannot be onsite to directly supervise safety procedures, they need to be aware and comfortable with the environment.

 

• Assessing hazards of the job. According to OSHA, a failure to understand the potential hazards of the job is not a proper defense in avoiding responsibility. While a staffing agency does not need to become an expert in manufacturing safety they need to assess the potential risks to their employees before consenting to placement. There must also be a level of trust with the host company to inform the agency of any changes in the employee’s assignment.

 

Do you want to know more about how OSHA regulations affect your business?
Contact Full Steam Staffing, expert Staffing Agency in Ontario, CA, to learn more.