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OSHA Provides Resources for Small Businesses

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched a new Web site last week designed specifically for smaller employers to encourage them to establish safety and health programs and find and fix hazards to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

The agency provides a range of materials geared to the needs of small businesses — including free on-line consultation, interactive computer software, electric compliance assistance, technical information and easy-to-follow guides for specific OSHA standards.

To access a list of these resources, click here.

The OSHA Web site also reminds small builders that the size of an employer can be taken into consideration, along with other factors, when penalties for violations are found.

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OSHA’s Field Inspection Reference Manual provides that proposed penalties can be reduced by the following percentages in consideration of the size of the employer:

• A penalty can be reduced by 60% if an employer has 25 employees or less;
• By 40% if there are 26-100 employees; and
• By 20% if the employer has 101-250 employees.

The agency also is assuring small businesses that inspections are not triggered by inquiries about safety and health regulations or other safety-related subjects.

For additional compliance assistance, e-mail George Middleton in NAHB's Labor, Safety and Health Department.
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