OSHA Small Business

Owning a small business means that you’re busy all the time. So, sitting down for a moment to understand safety and health obligations, compliance information, regulatory standards and the safety and health of worksites might not always be at the top of your to do list. That is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created the Office of Small Business Assistance.

OSHA encourages all businesses to establish safety and health programs, and find and fix hazards to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. To assist in your safety efforts, OSHA offers many resources designed specifically for smaller employers, including:

OSHA’s Non-Retaliation Policy

  • Information inquiries received by the agency regarding safety and health regulations or other safety-related subjects will not trigger an inspection for your small business.
  • There are a few rare exceptions to the policy, such as the employer notifying OSHA of the presence of an imminent danger or the occurrence of a fatality. However, OSHA policy is to provide assistance to help employers prevent and reduce workplace fatalities, illnesses and injuries.

Penalty Reductions for Small Business

  • OSHA considers the size of the employer, among other factors, when determining the penalty to be proposed for any violation. OSHA has always had detailed procedures in place for making this determination, which are currently outlined in the OSHA Field Operations Manual (FOM). The FOM states that proposed penalties may be reduced by the following percentages for smaller businesses:
    • Up to a 60 percent penalty reduction may be applied if an employer has 25 employees or fewer
    • Up to a 40 percent reduction if the employer has 26-100 employees
    • Up to a 20 percent reduction if the employer has 101-250 employees

Benefits for Your Business

As a small business owner, you are privy to some perks provided by OSHA. In addition to the possibility of lower fines, small businesses also receive the following benefits:

  • Exemptions from Recordkeeping
    • Employers with 10 or fewer employees are exempt from most, though not all, OSHA recordkeeping requirements for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses.

Consultation

  • OSHA offers free assistance in identifying workplace hazards and establishing or improving safety and health management systems corporation-wide.

To learn more about Lawley’s small business programs and risk management, click here.