Offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small businesses with priority given to high-hazard worksites

The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded $1,912,000 under the Consultation Agreements program (CFDA 17.504) to Boise State University for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. Under this cooperative agreement, Boise State University will provide confidential, no-cost occupational safety and health consultation services to small businesses in Idaho, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. Consultants will conduct at least 90% of initial visits at establishments with 250 employees or less, at least 90% of initial visits at establishments controlled by employers with 500 employees or less, and at least 90% of initial visits at high-hazard establishments. All visits will include employee interviews and verification that identified serious and imminent hazards are timely corrected. Services include full-service visits providing complete safety and health hazard assessments, as well as limited-service visits focusing on particular work processes or mandated programs. This funding will support consultative workplace safety and health services targeting smaller employers.

Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. Activities performed consultation visits, which can be either full service or limited service in scope. Full-service visits provide a complete, safety and/or health hazard assessment of all working conditions, equipment, processes, and OSHA or state plan mandated programs. On the other hand, a limited-service visit provides a less complete safety and/or health hazard assessment providing a focused assessment of a particular work process, or OSHA or state plan mandated programs. Deliverables deliverables: 1.) conduct at least 90% of initial visits in high hazard establishments. 2.) conduct at least 90% of initial visits at establishments with 250 or less employees 3.) conduct at least 90% of initial visits at establishments controlled by an employer with 500 or less employees. 4.) conduct 100% of visits where employees were intervieiwed. 5.) verify that 100% of serious and imminent hazards identifed are corrected in a timely manner (