"Host employers need to treat temporary workers as they treat existing employees. Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the employee, and are therefore jointly responsible for temp employee's safety and health. It is essential that both employers comply with all relevant OSHA requirements."
- David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health
In recent years, OSHA has investigated numerous preventable deaths and injuries among temporary workers. These workers often change worksites multiple times in a year – and data has consistently shown us that new workers face a greater risk of injury due to inadequate safety training. To address this issue, OSHA has been making a concerted effort to protect temporary workers – through enforcement, outreach, and training.
David Michaels, Ph.D. and Stephen Dwyer, general counsel of the American Staffing Association, discuss the initiative and the joint responsibility of host employers and staffing staffing firms to protect temporary workers in this OSHA video:
Looking for resources on how to improve safety training for your temporary workers? Check out the following websites and materials:
- OSHA Protecting Temporary Workers site
- NIOSH and OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Protecting Temporary Workers
- OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative Bulletins – Injury and Illness Recordingkeeping Requirements, Personal Protective Equipment, and Whistleblower Protection Rights
- Gibson’s blog on Temporary Employee Safety Training
Temporary employees fill a necessary gap. The nature of their contract should not mean that these employees’ safety is any less important. As OSHA reminds us: whether temporary or permanent, all workers always have a right to a safe and healthy workplace. Effective businesses create safe work environments for every member of their staff.
