In the early 1950s, something incredibly exciting happened in workplaces across the United States - thousands of returning GIs came home, filling jobs that had been left open throughout the war. Unfortunately, workplace safety was of little regard, and as these new workers reintegrated into the domestic workforce, safety ratings got far worse. Accident and injury rates skyrocketed, and eventually, President Johnson began pushing for workplace safety and health regulations. Just a few years later, they passed, and OSHA became law.
Today, OSHA includes a number of rules and regulations businesses must follow, but not all companies are required to become OSHA certified. What is OSHA certification, anyway, and which businesses are required to certify? Moreover, as you explore the possibility of OSHA certification, you may be left wondering, “What are the benefits of being OSHA certified for my company?” Keep reading. We’ll learn more about the process, the businesses that must undertake it, and the real benefits involved for your company.
What is OSHA Certification?
Many people believe OSHA certifies companies to do business. That’s simply a misconception. Instead, OSHA works to help businesses comply with regulations that help ensure the safety of all employees. Employees, though, in businesses that comply with OSHA regulations often have the opportunity to attend training and gain the education they need to help make a stronger, safer workplace. The primary requirement from OSHA for employers is that they conform their current conditions to applicable OSHA standards.
That means identifying and correcting safety and health hazards throughout the workplace. Naturally, those vary depending on your company. Construction companies, for example, must provide protection from falls and guards on machines. Office environments, on the other hand, need things like adequate lighting and ergonomic seating. Perhaps the most defining part of OSHA regulations is simply ensuring that employees have what they need to complete the job in a safe manner.
That might be tools, equipment, or even personal protective equipment like the right eyewear and masks. OSHA also requires employers to provide employees with the right information thanks to things like on-site OSHA posters, details of any hazardous chemicals that are stored, and ongoing training.
What is OSHA Certification In the Small Business Environment?
Not every business, however, has to comply with OSHA standards, and they don’t all have to offer OSHA certification training to their employees. Instead, those that have ten or fewer employees and those from industries that are considered low-risk do not have to follow the regulations many other companies do. Additionally, some states have their own guidelines that replace OSHA guidelines.
For some businesses, this is the perfect excuse to ignore OSHA requirements. After all, what are the benefits of being OSHA certified if you’re a small business that doesn’t have to comply? The reality, though, is that OSHA certification can mean a lot for your company, even if you don’t have to remain in compliance. In fact, the benefits are actually the same as those for a bigger business. The next section details those benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Being OSHA Certified?
While there are numerous advantages to OSHA certification, there are three that you certainly don’t want to overlook. Ensuring you remain OSHA compliant may:
- Reduce Workplace Accidents
A 2018 Liberty Mutual study found that employers paid over $1 billion per week in workers’ compensation costs that resulted from serious workplace accidents. For a small business owner, a workplace accident can be financially devastating. It takes a serious toll on your employees too. Investing in OSHA-compliant training can help lower your risk of those accidents throughout your facility.
By simply following OSHA guidelines, like researching the vulnerabilities your employees might face every day, ensuring they have the right protective equipment, and maintaining adequate staffing levels, you have the ability to reduce accidents, promoting the health of every one of your employees. That can have a real impact on your bottom line as well. After all, the last thing you need is an added cost.
- Help You Design a Safer Workplace
OSHA offers you a new way to look at your workplace conditions, and when you design a safe work environment, you’re clearly signaling to your employees that you care as much about them as you do about your company.
As a result, they’re less likely to work for someone else. They tend to be more satisfied with their job and more productive. By simply following OSHA guidelines, you’ll be able to optimize what you do and minimize the risks your employees face on a daily basis. In a job market where skilled workers are harder than ever to find if keeping them means just designing a safer workplace, it seems like a small price to pay.
- Offer a Better Approach to Risk Management
Risk management is key for any business owner today, as it can help keep more people on the job and help keep costs down. When you remain OSHA compliant, you get the training you need to avoid serious problems down the road. It means fewer workplace injuries that impact your company in a serious way. It may also make your business more attractive to investors in the future.
Contact Labor For Hire Today for More Information
OSHA certification can mean quite a bit to your company. Every professional you choose through Labor for Hire comes fully OSHA certified, so if your facility is committed to this level of safety, you can ensure our candidates fit well in that environment. We even offer additional OSHA safety training courses for your entire team. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today.
