Options to Make Sure Your Workplace Health and Safety Program is Compliant

 

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Execute a quick review of safety regulations and you will easily feel overwhelmed as a business owner. Safety standards apply to both profit and non-profit organizations alike and everyone has to be aware of their obligations under law for compliance with the multitude of regulations. Once you get past the shock of the information overload and actually process the relevant material to your organization, the path forward becomes a little less daunting. There are several options for making sure your workplace health and safety program is compliant with all applicable laws.

Getting Started
The toughest question facing the organizer of a health and safety program is where to begin. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to narrow down the starting point. You must identify the relevant agencies that have any sort of regulatory authority over the industry you seek to conduct business in and you must also determine the jurisdiction you plan to operate within. If you conduct business across state lines you may have a wider application of federal regulations that apply to your organization.

Regardless of the number of states you conduct business in, there are going to be federal regulations that apply to you. The regulatory body of the government for health and safety is called the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). OSHA establishes a base line of safety guidelines that set the minimum standards of operation for each industry. From the federal guidelines, the state’s health and safety programs complement and reinforce the federal rules. Some states, like California, establish programs that go above and beyond the federal requirements while other states barely meet the minimum standards.

Gathering Information
After your quick search on the internet for information related to your industry for health and safety guidelines, you discovered the volumes of data to sort through. The industry of regulations has grown to be so massive that there are businesses designed simply for the purpose of helping other companies navigate the mountains of information.

If you want current and relevant information that directly pertains to your organization, consider hiring a consultant. Consultants generally have direct experience in your field and have already been through the steps you are about to take. Just searching through the internet to get an idea of the amount of data you need to assimilate also leads you to another fact. Not only is there a lot of data to sort through, there is also a need to interpret the data for comprehension so that it can be applied to the operations of your company. Statute and regulations may seem black and white on the surface, but under the scrutiny of an attorney or government official, their application may take forms that you never considered. A consultant can provide guidance for interpreting and understanding the rules as they apply to your company.

When you search the internet for assistance with regulatory data, you will discover the true power of the internet. With the entry of businesses into the market of regulatory guidance support, the internet provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to start businesses with a platform to network with the regulatory agencies’ websites. The good news is that all of the necessary information is available and can be effectively navigated with enough time invested. Your interests will still be best served by consulting with a professional to at least get started.

Putting it All Together
The benefits of internet access and consulting come together in a company called California Employer Services in a spectacular way. The website provides specialized compliance support in a number of ways for California businesses. They provide human resource consulting, employee handbook development, labor law policy implementation, and compliance testing. They provide solutions that work in a simple platform that allows your management team to interact in ways that do not burden your resources.

Compliance is not optional. At some time in your company’s lifespan there is going to be an incident or inspection that will bring your health and safety policies to the forefront under the spotlight of either the public consciousness or the government’s watchful eye. Health and safety is an area of focus that requires you to be ahead of the curve and rewards people who overachieve. While it is difficult to be “too safe,” it is not difficult to overlook any one of the regulations which could result in an injury, illness or even a fine. Every business-minded individual understands the idea that time is money. When you consider the time it takes to research, interpret, and put into practice a health and safety program that is compliant with all regulations, you will see how expensive of a venture that project can be. Hiring a consultant will potentially save you money and time while simultaneously giving you the added security of knowing that your health and safety program is compliant.

About the author: 

Ray Donato, the author, is a business owner and blogger. As a business owner, Ray is always on the lookout for resources and information to keep up with his industry’s best business practices. To stay updated with Ray’s findings, connect with him via Google+