Safety Tidbit #2.8 - Protecting Temporary Workers

Safety Tidbit #2.8 – Protecting Temporary Workers

Source:            OSHA’s Protecting Temporary Workers webpage

Both staffing agencies and host employers share in their responsibilities to protect temporary workers and if properly coordinated, these workers should be getting double the safety oversight and hopefully great protection. Unfortunately, I have had several clients over the past few months that were unaware of their responsibilities for their temporary employees.  Furthermore, I had a couple of temporary agencies that were also ignorant of their responsibilities for the health and safety of their workers. However, I have to do a shout-out to OneSource Staffing as I think they do an excellent job of working with host employers understanding the work conditions. They also have a safety person on staff for that purpose.

From OSHA’s webpage on Temporary Workers - a key concept is that each employer should consider the hazards it is in a position to prevent and correct, and in a position to comply with OSHA standards. For example: staffing agencies might provide general safety and health training, and host employers provide specific training tailored to the particular workplace equipment/hazards.

• The key is communication between the agency and the host to ensure that the necessary protections are provided.
• Staffing agencies have a duty to inquire into the conditions of their workers' assigned workplaces. They must ensure that they are sending workers to a safe workplace.
• Ignorance of hazards is not an excuse.
• Staffing agencies need not become experts on specific workplace hazards, but they should determine what conditions exist at their client (host) agencies, what hazards may be encountered, and how best to ensure protection for the temporary workers.
• The staffing agency has the duty to inquire and verify that the host has fulfilled its responsibilities for a safe workplace.
• And, just as important: Host employers must treat temporary workers like any other workers in terms of training and safety and health protections.
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Ultimately, OSHA may cite either or both entities for violations so each must be diligent in identifying the hazards workers (temporary or otherwise) exposed to and ensure each person is fully trained and protected while performing their job.  We as consultants can go a long way to educating the employer and to aid them in working with staffing agencies to provide qualified employees.

Remember, each person is entitled to go home whole at the end of each day.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits ~ Bryan

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