1. IOMSA Annual Conference
Moody Gardens Hotel & Conference Center
Galveston, TX
June 26, 2017

2. Objectives Importance of workplace safety and health to your business
The OSHA Consultation (OSHCON) Program description
Benefits of working with OSHCON
Consultation process and employer responsibilities
Other safety & health resources
Contact information

3. Importance of Workplace Safety to Your Business
Why is Workplace Safety Important? What is the Value?

4. The Value of PREVENTION
saves lives
prevents injuries
saves you money

5. Protects Your Biggest Asset
Your Employees

6. Accident Prevention Saves You $$$
Reduce WC costs and medical costs
Maintain production schedules
Control damage to equipment and materials
Reduce liability from litigation
Maintain OSHA compliance and avoid fines
In addition to protecting your employees welfare an effective accident prevention program will safe you money
Reduce workers’ compensation and medical costs
Maintain production schedules
Control damage to equipment and materials
Reduce liability
Improve safety and health management systems
Manage environmental issues (chemical handling practices, spill prevention and control)
Maintain OSHA compliance and avoid fines

7. Additional Value
Reliability, credibility, and trust of your customers and clients
Reduce risk, liability, and negative visibility of the organization
Cultivate trust and increase morale of employees by your efforts to protect their welfare and well being
Reduce employee turnover rate
Not uncommon for larger costumers to require vendors and suppliers to have 3 rd. party safety audits as part of their contract
No one wants to see their name on the front page of the news
Doesn’t everyone want to work for a company who cares about their well being
Is it a coincidence my companies that have real good accident prevention programs also have a real low turnover rate.

8. Sources of Help Vendors Insurance Carriers Private Consultants
Peer Industry Organizations
University & Other Educational Organizations
Some of you may have well established safety and health programs with dedicated staff whiles other may not. But doesn’t matter how established your program is it is always beneficial to have someone from the outside to verify/confirm

9. Compliance Assistance
OSHA helping employers
OSHA Website
OSHA Call Center
OSHA Outreach Activities
OSHA Training and Education Centers
Consultation Program
Part of OSHA’s mission is to provide guidance and assistance to employers. This is accomplished in the following manor

10. Compliance Assistance
OSHA helping employers
21 million visitors to OSHA’s website in FY 2015
251,000 responses to OSHA calls for help
21,000 Spanish-speaking callers helped
16,000 requests for assistance answered
5,000 outreach activities by Regional & Area Offices
27,800 small businesses helped through Consultation
Yes, employers really do contact OSHA for assistance.

11. OSHCON Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program Who we are ….

12. About OSHCON
Free service for small employers (<250 at one site, 500 nationwide)
Funded by OSHA as a grant to each state
Consultants are from state agencies or universities
Separate from Federal OSHA Enforcement, Workers Compensation, or Insurance Carriers
Although we will give consideration for assisting larger companies, are resources and priorities are focused on these small employers.

13. OSHCON’s On-Site Compliance Assistance is:
Voluntary
Requested by the Employer
Confidential
No cost to the Employer

14. OSHCON’s On-Site Compliance Assistance
The Employer:
determines the scope of the visit
comprehensive consultation
consultation to address specific issues
employer may, at any time during the visit,
expand
limit
terminate the consultation

15. Your OSHCON Consultant WILL:
Help you identify hazards in the workplace
Suggest general approaches and options for eliminating hazards and resolving safety issues
Help employers understand safety and health regulations and their obligations under such regulations
Stay informed of new and emerging OSHA requirements
Help develop and maintain successful safety and health programs
Identify other safety and health resources available

16. Your OSHCON Consultant WILL NOT:
Issue citations or penalties
Report violations to OSHA
Release any confidential or trade secret information
Release the identity or information associated with compliance assistance to OSHA or outside entity.

17. So What’s The Catch?
Good Faith Efforts by the Employer

18. Good Faith Efforts by the Employer
You will be required to fix any serious hazards identified during the visit by an mutually agreed upon time frame. Because the program is voluntary there is no on-site verification unless you request it. Written notification that hazards are abated is submitted by employer.
Failure to act in good faith and correct all serious hazards identified on-site could require the program to turn over the case to enforcement.

19. SHARP Program
Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)
Exemption from Programmed OSHA Inspections
Initial exemption for one year
Subsequent renewals for two years (self-audit must be submitted to OSHCON after one year to verify continued eligibility)
There is even a OSHA sponsored recognition program for small employers similar to OSHA’s VVP Program
For employers with exceptional safety and health management programs there is an OSHA recognition program similar OSHA’s VVP Program except for small employers.

20. SHARP Criteria
Employee 250 or less per worksite and no more than 500 nationwide
Be in a high hazard industry as defined by OSHA
Receive Comprehensive Safety and Health OSHCON Consultation
Correct all identified hazards
Institute all elements of an exemplary safety and health program
Have DART and TRC below the national industry average

21. Consultation Process Step 1: Request Step 2: On-site Visit
Step 3: Evaluation and Report
Step 4: Correction of Serious Hazards
Schedule a date
Opening & closing conference
In those conferences the scope of the visit. your rights and your responsibilities in accepting our services are discussed.
In the closing conference the findings and recommendations are discussed along with a time line to abate any serious hazards identified.
Report outlining the findings and recommendations visit and any tools and information available to assist employer is provided
Employer must respond in writing that hazards have been abated.

22. How do you contact your OSHA Consultation Service in your State
How do you contact your OSHA Consultation Service in your State? I find the easiest way is to go on OSHA’s website under Consultation Program. Highlight the State which the services are being requested and the contact information will appear

23. For example: Texas
Also included is a link to their website

24. In addition to contact information, additional information regarding the program and it’s resources are typically found on the site.

25. Texas OSHCON Safety Training Resource Center
Free Safety & Health Publications including Spanish Publications
Free Downloadable OSHA Sample Written Programs (Word)
Free Safety & Health Training DVD/video Loan Program
Over 6,000 DVDs/Videos
No Charge for Borrowing Simply Pay Return Postage
Searchable On-line Catalog
For those in Texas these are the types of resources available on our website:
Publications include:
Short easy to read one page safety tips designed to be used for tool box meeting or pay check fliers
Model OSHA required written programs which can be downloaded and edited
Detailed publications on Forklift Training, Accident Prevent and Safety Policies, and other subjects

26. OSHCON as a Resource Safety and health resource center
Outreach and training
Newsletter with OSHA updates on new regulations
Call if you have a safety or health issue you would like to discuss
Like your vendors, suppliers, providers, the internet, this network
This is a network

27. Contact Information
Glenn Abdelnoor (800) ext