Ensuring the Protection of Temporary Workers Through OSHA

All American workers, no matter who they are, need workplace protections, and that includes temporary workers, contractors and all other classes of workers who do the tough jobs to keep the economy running every day. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA is a vital part of providing worker’s protections to make sure workers aren’t taken advantage of, or left vulnerable to various hazards and safety issues.

Enforcement Through OSHA

OSHA has the capacity to fine or penalize companies for any lack of safety protocols for either full-time or temporary workers. OSHA can conduct inspections of workplaces, and provides vital safety training for leadership and management professionals, as well as conducting public awareness campaigns for workplace safety issues.

Using OSHA as a Compliance Tool

One thing that OSHA recommends for companies is that they include relevant OSHA guidelines in workplace contracts. This extends to the contracts that the company has with its workers, as well as the contract that it creates for staffing services.

When companies and staffing services include OSHA-compliant language in their contracts, it sets up a clear and transparent process for making sure that workers are protected under the law. OSHA refers to this as a ‘joint responsibility’ — meaning that OSHA can hold the post company or the temporary employer liable for any violations.

“Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the worker, and are therefore jointly responsible for temporary workers’ safety and health.” — reads an OSHA resource online. The agency adds that some companies may use a temporary workforce strategy to try to avoid some of their safety obligations, so that OSHA keeps a close eye on temporary workplace setups.

Tools for Workers

OSHA maintains an extensive website for worker safety information. Workers can access information about worker’s rights and other issues at OSHA’s website. There’s also a phone number to call for whistleblower issues, and in addition, OSHA offers on-site consultation programs for businesses.

OSHA publications also show clear-cut examples of how companies are fined or penalized for worker safety violations. In a wide range of industries, applicable federal, state and local workplace safety laws require compliance on the part of the employer. In many cases, OSHA publishes the fines and penalties meted out to businesses in order to show other companies what can result from noncompliance.

The bottom line is that companies should make sure that everyone is reasonably safe on the job. That includes providing adequate personal protective equipment like goggles, gloves, masks, etc. It also means having adequate orientation and training for physical work processes. It means having a competent and dedicated management team that cares about everyone, whether they are in-house or temporary.

For more, check out the Full Steam Staffing blog to find out about best practices for hiring and everything else in today’s work world. We provide our Ontario, California clients with information and services they can use to spring to the top of the pack and succeed in tough markets.