The service is also confidential. Your name and firm and any information about your workplace, plus any unsafe or unhealthful working conditions that the consultant uncovers, will not be reported routinely to the OSHA inspection staff. In addition, no citations are issued or penalties proposed as a result of a consultation. Your only obligations are to allow the consultant to confer with employees in the course of the hazard survey and to correct any imminent dangers and other serious job safety and health hazards in a timely manner. You make these commitments before the consultant's visit.
Consultation is a cooperative approach to solving safety and health problems in the workplace.
As a voluntary activity, it is neither automatic nor unexpected. You must request it. If you know what the hazards are in your workplace and ways to remedy them, you will be in a better position to comply with job safety and health requirements. The more you know about the safety and health aspects of your company's operations and ways to improve them, the better you can manage your firm in general. The consultation program provides professional advice and assistance at no cost.