What type of compliance assistance
does OSHA provide?
OSHA offers a variety of compliance
assistance and outreach products and services to
help employers prevent and reduce workplace
fatalities, illnesses, and injuries. These include
compliance assistance information, publications
and tools; education and training courses;
cooperative programs for organizations to
collaborate with OSHA; free onsite consultation
services; and the services of compliance
assistance specialists who provide information
and training about OSHA requirements.
What compliance assistance
information does OSHA provide?
The OSHA website at www.osha.gov
provides information on all OSHA activities and
programs, including OSHA laws and regulations,
news and events, interactive software called
“eTools,” posters and publications, education
and training programs, cooperative programs,
and agency contact information. Online users can
read OSHA’s e-newsletter, Quick Takes, which
provides timely information about agency
activities.
A variety of OSHA publications are available
on the agency website and through the OSHA
Publications Office. To order single copies, order
online or call (800) 321-OSHA. Some OSHA
publications are available for sale through the
Government Printing Office at www.gpo.gov or
by calling (202) 512-1800.
In addition, employers and employees can call
(800) 321-OSHA toll-free for workplace safety
and health information or assistance 24 hours a
day.
What assistance does OSHA provide
to non-English-speaking employers
and employees?
OSHA maintains a Spanish-language
webpage at www.osha.gov/as/opa/spanish/
index.html and a Spanish safety and health
topics page at www.osha.gov/SLTC/spanish/
index.html. In addition, the agency has Spanishspeaking
operators available on its national
hotline between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Many
OSHA publications, training materials, and
videos are available in Spanish. In addition,
many regional and area offices also offer
information in Japanese, Korean, Polish, and
other languages.
What education and training does
OSHA provide?
The OSHA Outreach Training Program trains
individuals to teach others the basics of
occupational safety and health. After taking a
one-week course, trainers teach 10- or 30-hour
courses in construction or general industry safety
and health standards.
OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education
Centers, located throughout the country, offer the
public 15 courses and one seminar developed by
the OTI staff. Courses run from one to four days
and vary in price. Topics include industrial
hygiene, recordkeeping, ergonomics, and
construction-related issues. OSHA also presents
satellite broadcasts and simultaneous webcasts
on new rules and guidance documents.
In addition, OSHA awards training grants
under the Susan Harwood Training Grant
Program to nonprofit organizations to train
workers and employers to recognize, avoid, and
prevent safety and health hazards in their
workplaces.
What are OSHA’s cooperative
programs?
OSHA offers a variety of programs that enable
the agency to work cooperatively with trade or
professional organizations, businesses, labor
organizations, educational institutions, and
government agencies.
OSHA’s Alliance Program enables trade or
professional organizations, businesses, labor
organizations, educational institutions, and
government agencies that share an interest in
workplace safety and health to collaborate with
OSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in the
workplace. OSHA and the organization sign a
2002
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting
OSHA programs, policies, or standards. It does not
impose any new compliance requirements. For compliance requirements
of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title
29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will
be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon
request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999. See also OSHA’s
website at www.osha.gov.
formal agreement with goals that address
training and education, outreach and
communication, and promotion of the national
dialogue on workplace safety and health.
OSHA’s Onsite Consultation Program
helps small businesses—particularly those in
high-hazard industries or involved in hazardous
operations—to meet their obligations under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act and federal
and state standards by conducting onsite
surveys. Consultants also help employers
develop and implement safety and health
management systems that eliminate or control
injuries and illnesses. OSHA provides the service
at no cost to the employer. Additionally, the
Onsite Consultation Program recognizes small
employers that operate exemplary safety and
health management systems through the SHARP,
the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition
Program.
The OSHA Strategic Partnership Program
(OSPP) expands worker protection by bringing
together employers, employer groups,
employees or their unions, and OSHA to
address specific safety and health issues.
Agreements between partners may be local,
regional, or national in scope. A partnership
agreement sets measurable goals and individual
responsibilities, specifies an action plan and a
measurement system, and provides procedures
for verifying results. OSPP helps transform the
traditional, often adversarial, relationship
between the regulator and regulated into a
cooperative relationship aimed at achieving safe
and healthful workplaces through shared
expertise.
The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)
are characterized by challenging, performancebased
participation requirements. These include
a rigorous onsite evaluation by expert OSHA
teams to verify site performance initially, then
periodic reevaluations. VPP focuses on
comprehensive safety and health management
systems that go well beyond OSHA standards.
VPP participants report dramatic reductions in
workers’ compensation costs, as well as
absenteeism and worker turnover; improved
employee morale; and increased productivity and
product quality.
What are compliance assistance
specialists (CASs)?
Compliance assistance specialists in each
OSHA area office respond to requests for offsite
safety and health assistance. Small businesses,
trade associations, union locals, and community
and faith-based groups may call on CASs to
speak at seminars, workshops, and other events.
CASs promote OSHA’s cooperative programs,
training opportunities, and information and tools
available on the OSHA website or from the
agency. CASs are not involved in enforcement
activities.
How can I get more information
about OSHA compliance assistance?
For more information on compliance assistance
products and services, call (800) 321-OSHA,
visit the OSHA website at www.osha.gov, or
contact your nearest OSHA regional or area office
listed on the website.
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