What Happens During an On-Site Consultation Visit?

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Because consultation is a voluntary activity, you must request it. To make a request, locate your state's Consultation Program's contact information using our OSHA's Consultation Directory. The consultant will discuss your specific needs with you and set up a visit date based on the priority assigned to your request, your work schedule, and the time needed for the consultant to adequately prepare to serve you. OSHA encourages a complete review of your firm's safety and health situation; however, if you wish you may limit the visit to one or more specific problems.

The On-Site Consultants Will
  • Help you recognize hazards in your workplace.
  • Suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health problem.
  • Identify kinds of help available if you need further assistance.
  • Provide you a written report summarizing findings.
  • Assist you to develop or maintain an effective safety and health programs.
  • Provide training and education for you and your employees.
The On-Site Consultants Will Not

  • Issue citations or propose penalties for violations of OSHA standards.
  • Report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff.
  • Guarantee that your workplace will "pass" an OSHA inspection.

Step 1

Opening Conference

When the consultant arrives at your worksite for the scheduled visit, he or she will first meet with you in an opening conference to briefly review the consultant's role and the obligation you incur as an employer.

Step 2

Walk Through

Together, you and the consultant will examine conditions in your workplace. OSHA strongly encourages maximum employee participation in the walk-through. Better informed and more alert employees can more easily work with you to identify and correct potential injury and illness hazards in your workplace. Talking with employees during the walk-through helps the consultant identify and judge the nature and extent of specific hazards.

The consultant will study your entire workplace or the specific operations you designate and discuss the applicable OSHA standards. Consultants also will point out other safety or health risks that might not be cited under OSHA standards, but nevertheless may pose safety or health risks to your employees. They may suggest and even provide other measures such as self-inspection and safety and health training you and your employees can use to prevent future hazardous situations.

A comprehensive consultation includes:

  1. An appraisal of all mechanical and environmental hazards and physical work practices.
  2. An appraisal of the present safety and health programs or establishment of one.
  3. A conference with management on findings.
  4. A written report of recommendations and agreements.
  5. Training and assistance with implementing recommendations.

Step 3

Closing Conference

The consultant will then review detailed findings with you in a closing conference. You will learn not only what you need to improve, but also what you are doing right. At that time you can discuss problems, possible solutions and abatement periods to eliminate or control any serious hazards identified during the walk-through. In rare instances, the consultant may find an "imminent danger" situation during the walk-through. If so, you must take immediate action to protect all employees. In certain other situations that would be judged a "serious violation" under OSHA criteria, you and the consultant are required to develop and agree to a reasonable plan and schedule to eliminate or control that hazard. The consultants will offer general approaches and options to you. They may also suggest other sources for technical help.

Step 4

Abatement and Follow Through

Following the closing conference, the consultant will send you a detailed written report explaining the findings and confirming any abatement periods agreed upon. Consultants may also contact you from time to time to check your progress. You, of course, may always contact them for assistance. Ultimately, OSHA requires hazard abatement so that each consultation visit achieves its objective -- effective employee protection. If you fail to eliminate or control identified serious hazards (or an imminent danger) according to the plan and within the limits agreed upon or an agreed-upon extension, the situation must be referred from consultation to an OSHA enforcement office for appropriate action. This has rarely occurred in the past.