SHA demands that all employers provide a safe work environment for employees, yet no employer can eliminate human error completely. The goal is to keep up with an ever changing environment and ensure that all is being done to reduce risks to the greatest extent possible. If you find that you are struggling to keep up in this area or that the number of incidents have gone up, you may wish to hire a company specializing in Safety Consulting. Many companies find this benefits them in a variety of ways, even those who already have a full time training and safety manager on staff.
One major benefit of hiring an outside company specializing in Safety Consulting is the consultant isn’t influenced in any way by your company’s past safety record. He or she won’t alter reports to ensure your company looks good, which could be a problem with an in house employee concerned about finding him or herself out of a job. In addition, the consultant may find different ways to save your company money, by bringing in fresh new ideas, ones overlooked by those currently responsible for this task.
You determine which tasks the consultant will take on and which will remain in house, if any. All fees paid to the consultant are tax deductible, as they are a business expense, and you decide if he or she will be on an as needed basis or if a contract will be established. The consultant undergoes training through his or her company, however, and their company remains responsible for any benefits paid to them, taxes, and other expenses you would incur if you chose to bring an employee in to handle this task.
The consultant also works to assist you in the event a problem does arise and will conduct safety inspections prior to those undertaken by OSHA, to identify potential problems so you can correct them before the official inspection. They can also review safety manuals on a regular basis and make changes, when needed. Decide what it is you would like help with and discuss this with the consultant to see how they can be of help to you. Many choose to call The Arnold Group for assistance in this area, and you may wish to do the same, as they understand safety regulations and what companies need to ensure they are in compliance.
