Using the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development free On-Site Consultation Service, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their occupational safety and health management systems, and even qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program - SHARP).

The service is delivered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health, using well-trained safety and health professionals. Consultations take place on-site, though limited services away from the worksite are available.

Primarily targeted for smaller businesses (less than 250 employees), this safety and health consultation program is completely separate from the OSHA inspection effort. In addition, no citations are issued or penalties proposed.

Under the Small Business Focus (SBF) initiative, companies with 50 or fewer employees will receive a special priority in scheduling consultations.

Your name, your firm's name, and any information you provide about your workplace, plus any unsafe or unhealthful working conditions that the consultant uncovers is kept confidential and will not be reported routinely to the OSHA enforcement staff. Your only obligation will be to commit to correcting serious job safety and health hazards -- a commitment which you are expected to make prior to the actual visit and carry out in a timely manner.

Getting Started

Since consultation is a voluntary activity, you must request it. Your telephone call to (609) 984-0785 or letter to New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health, P.O. Box 953, Trenton, NJ 08625 sets the consulting machinery in motion. A consultant will discuss your specific needs with you and set up a visit based on the priority assigned to your request, your work schedule, and the time needed for the consultant to prepare adequately 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.

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.

Employee participation is required in all site visits. At unionized sites, an employee representative must be afforded the opportunity to participate in the opening and closing conferences and to accompany the consultant and employer representative during the walkthrough.

Walk-Through

Together, you and the consultant will examine conditions in your workplace. Maximum employee participation in the walk-through is encouraged. 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 which might not be cited under OSHA standards, but which 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 apply to prevent future hazardous situations.

A comprehensive consultation also includes:  (1) appraisal of all mechanical and environmental hazards and physical work practices; (2) appraisal of the present job safety and health program or the establishment of one; (3) a conference with management on findings; (4) a written report of recommendations and agreements; and, (5) training and assistance with implementing recommendations.

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 what you are doing right, as well. At that time you can discuss problems, possible solutions and an abatement period 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, those which 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.

Abatement and Follow Through

Following the closing conference, the consultant will send you a detailed written report explaining the findings and confirming the 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.

You must agree to post the "List of Hazards", in a prominent place, as it was received from the consultation project for three working days or until the hazards are corrected, whichever is later.

Ultimately, OSHA does require 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. However, this has occurred only rarely in the past.

Benefits

Knowledge of your workplace hazards and ways to eliminate them can only improve your own operations -- and the management of your firm. You will get professional advice and assistance on the correction of workplace hazards and benefits from on-site training and assistance provided by the consultant to you and your employees. The consultant can help you establish or strengthen an employee safety and health program, making safety and health activities routine considerations rather than crisis-oriented responses. However, the consultation service cannot guarantee you will pass an OSHA inspection.

New Jersey Area Offices

For enforcement activity or to register a complaint regarding a workplace safety or health hazard, contact one of the area offices listed below serving the county where the workplace is located.

NEW JERSEY AREA OFFICES of the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

AREA OFFICE	COUNTY SERVED
Avenel Area Office 1030 St. Georges Avenue Plaza 35, Suite 205 Avenel, NJ 07001 (732) 750-3270 (732) 750-4737 FAX	Hunterdon, Union, Middlesex, Warren, Somerset
Hasbrouck Heights Area Office 500 Route 17 South, 2nd Floor Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 (201) 288-1700 (201) 288-7315 FAX	Bergen, Passaic
Marlton Area Office Marlton Executive Park Building 2 701 Route 73 South, Suite 120 Marlton, NJ 08053 (856) 396-2594 (856) 396-2593 FAX	Atlantic, Gloucester, Burlington, Mercer, Camden, Monmouth, Cape May, Ocean, Cumberland, Salem
Parsippany Area Office 299 Cherry Hill Road, Suite 304 Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 263-1003 (973) 299-7161 FAX	Essex, Sussex, Hudson, Morris