Keeping workers safe is a major concern for many Atlanta GA temp employers today. In the last 20 years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported that workplace injuries have dropped by about 7 percent, as of most recent figures. However, this is not enough. From 1992 to 2012, there has been around a 3 percent fatality rate caused by work related injuries. This amounts to 4 to 6 thousand deaths per year resulting from injuries on the job. Thousands more employees are hurt at work from trips and falls to equipment failures and vehicle accidents.

In Atlanta, as is other heavily industrialized cities, employers must take steps to ensure that they are doing everything possible to reduce and prevent hazards that can cause workplace injuries. Here are some OSHA regulations that apply specifically to those who utilize temp employees.

OSHA’s Statement on Tracking Temp Worker Injuries

Under the OSHA Temp Worker Initiative or TWI, employers who utilize temp workers must actively track and report all workplace injuries in a similar way to reporting these incidents for perm employees. However, the unique employment relationship that is generally referred to as “joint employment” requires careful management on behalf of the official employer (the temp agency) and the client (the company hosting the temp workers).

A special form, called the OSHA 300 is used to document all reportable injuries. When a worker is hurt, the hosting company must do the following things:

• Seek immediate medical treatment for the injured worker by coordinating with the temporary agency.
• Log the injury on the OSHA 300 form if the temp employee is supervised on a day-to-day basis.
• Allow the temporary agency to guide any workers’ compensation processes and wait further instruction as to replacement of the hurt worker.

Keeping Temps Safe on the Job

Now, when it comes to the actual safety of temps at the host employer’s place of business or while traveling as part of the temp job duties, the company using temps must do everything possible to ensure the safety of all workers. There is no distinguishing between temp and perm employees in terms of safety requirements. This includes protecting temps from workplace violence, exposure to hazardous materials, and other environmental conditions that can put them at risk for injury or illness. Keeping temps safe at work should be as much as a focus as keeping all standard employees healthy and productive, and they should be given the same education and training, safety equipment and support to stay safe at work.

If you have questions about safety regulations while managing temps on your worksite, your safety officer is encouraged to speak with our team at Staffing Resources, a leading Temp Staffing Agency in Atlanta, GA.