“While the extent of responsibility under the law of staffing agencies and host employers is dependent on the specific facts of each case, staffing agencies and host employers are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for temporary workers – including, for example, ensuring that OSHA’s training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping requirements are fulfilled.” – OSHA.gov

In order for both parties to have clear and concise expectations for protecting the safety of workers, responsibilities should be clearly outlined in a service agreement or contract. Having this language settled on early on helps prevent any confusion as occurrences happen in the future. While both the host employer and the staffing firm share in control over the worker, neither party should rely solely on the other to ensure the health and safety of the employee. Clear communication between the host employer and the staffing firm regarding job specific training, appropriate PPE, skillset required to safely perform the job duties and workplace hazards training.

Here are a few tips from OSHA on the topic:

• 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.

Because staffing firms often do not visit the workplace daily they should be sure to communicate openly with workers and encourage workers to report any hazards, changes in workplace safety, or other concerns quickly so they may be addressed accordingly.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

1. Logging Workers- With a number of constantly changing factors including job location, surrounding hazards, wind speed, and less than predictable falling directions; logging workers have no doubt a dangerous occupation.

2. Fishing Related Occupations– Dangerous weather conditions, faulty equipment, and drownings all add to the safety threat for this group.

3. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers– Despite technology improvements and state of the art equipment, mechanical issues and inclement weather add to the dangers of the job.

4. Roofers– Improper use of PPE, extreme heights, faulty equipment, slips, falls, and dangerous job sites all add to the injury exposure for roofers.

5. Structural Iron and Steel Workers- Working at extreme heights while handling heavy materials, these employees have a large exposure to falls, slips, crushes, and welding related injuries.

Regardless of your occupation finding the appropriate PPE, safety training, and identifying hazards are key to remaining safe on the job. Even those working in seemingly “safe” jobs can be injured when not following safety protocol and being aware of  their surroundings.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

“Passion and Humanity gives me the day to day drive to do the right thing. I do not want anyone to get hurt or get that dreaded call that your loved one is not coming home. If I have touched or taught one person with a safety message I feel I have been productive. In the safety world, everybody knows when you do the wrong thing or do not do something to save a life, nobody knows when you have done the right thing and save a life, limb or eye. It’s the humane thing to do and we choose NOT to look the other way!”

– Jamie Ellis, Safety Manager

Trillium employs a full time Risk Management team including several safety managers to help ensure we partner with safety minded clients helping us to provide our employees with not only exciting but also safe job opportunities.

“Behavior Based Safety is what drives me. If people have safe behaviors in their life, this will translate into safe habits for peers, children and a quality work force and work structure. Safety is a team effort! Everyone has to be involved in the safety arena.”

-Stephen Woodworth, Safety Manager

While choosing safe job sites is crucial, even the safest of job sites pose potential risks. Before our employees even enter a job site they undergo basic job site safety. We gladly participate in client sponsored safety events, and even provide additional safety training including:

• Workplace Violence
• Forklift Certification / Train the Trainer
• Confined Space
• Health Hazards in Construction: Heat Illness, Silica & Noise
• Fall Protection
• “Mock” OSHA Inspections
• OSHA 10 Hour: Construction, General Industry, and Maritime
• Cold Weather Safety
• Lock Out / Tag Out
• Machine Guarding
• Hot Work: Welding, Cutting, Brazing, and Burning

For more information on our Safety Training programs click here.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

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