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On-Site Surveys - MOSH Consultation Services

The primary objective of the Consultation Program is to help employers recognize and control potential safety and health hazards in the workplace. Consultative surveys usually consist of on-site safety and health visits; although the Program also offers assistance in other areas (refer to Technical Support). Employers can request a comprehensive (wall to wall) safety and health survey, or may limit the survey to specific options.

Since this service is voluntary, you must request a consultative visit. Your request sets the consultative process in motion; refer to Requesting a Visit. The Consultation Program prioritizes each request received and schedules on-site inspections accordingly. The program gives priority to smaller businesses (less than 250 employees per establishment or 500 employees nationwide) in high hazard industries.

On-site consultative visits include the following general components:

  1. Opening Conference - review of the consultant's role and the employer's obligations.
  2. Walk-Through Survey - consultant(s) examines conditions at your workplace, points out potential safety or health hazards, discuses applicable OSHA standards or interpretations, and recommends possible control measures. Areas of consultation include machine guarding, electrical safety, flammable storage, fall protection, trenching and excavation safety. The Consultation Program strongly encourages employee participation in the walk-through survey.
  3. Written Programs Evaluation - consultant(s) will evaluate the adequacy of all OSHA-required written programs; such as hazard communication, lockout/tagout, confined space entry, bloodborne pathogens, forklift and forktruck, respirator program and respirator program and respirator fit tests, and offer recommendations for improvement. Consultants can also help you establish or strengthen your safety and health program.
  4. Monitoring - health consultants can perform air testing, noise testing and ventilation testing as necessary at your worksite.
  5. Closing conference - the consultant(s) reviews findings, offers possible solutions, and schedules abatement periods to eliminate or control any "serious" or imminent danger" hazards.
  6. Written Report - following the closing conference, the consultant(s) will send you a detailed written report explaining all findings, possible control measures, and confirming abatement periods discussed in the closing conference.
  7. Abatement Verification - employers are obligated to submit written confirmation to the Consultation Program verifying that all "serious hazards have been abated. All "imminent hazards" must be corrected the day of the visit.

Employer Obligation

Under the agreement with Consultative Services, the employer promises to correct within a reasonable time all hazards identified by the consultant. This commitment is made in advance. The employer also must agree to post the list of hazards that accompanies the consultant's report. If an employer refuses to correct or verify correction of a serious hazard, the Program Manager may refer the matter to a MOSH compliance inspector, however this is a rare occurrence in this program.

Request a Survey

Since this service is voluntary, employers must request a consultative visit.

For employers to request a free MOSH Consultation Request for Assistance workplace safety and/or health consultative visit from MOSH consultation program, please submit the form below and send it in.

If you would like to request Consultation Assistance and meet the following criteria:

  • are an authorized representative of management; " have less than 250 employees in Maryland and less than 500 employees nationwide; and
     
  • have no current MOSH Compliance actions open.

Download the request form (Word). Please print, complete, and mail or fax the form to the address indicated at the bottom of the form.

Fax: 410-527-5678

Mail:
Maryland Department of Labor
Division of Labor and Industry
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)
10946 Golden West Drive
Suite 160
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Phone: 410-527-4472
Fax: 410-527-5678

Employers may also submit the form electronically by e-mail. Be sure to answer ALL questions marked with (*).

Technical Support

Although the principal assistance the Consultation Program provides is on-site surveys, other assistance is also available. MOSH Consultants can provide training seminars to your employees or at multi-employer groups, help you establish or strengthen your safety and health program, or provide technical support in any safety and health related area. Offsite technical assistance, regarding OSHA standards, guidelines, or interpretations, can be provided by contacting the Program. The Consultation Program has model programs for many of the OSHA-required written programs; such as hazard communication, lockout/tagout, emergency action plan, confined space entry, and bloodborne pathogens.

Safety and Health Training

MOSH provides training on occupational health hazards and indoor air quality problems to public and private employers, groups and organizations. Employers should contact the MOSH Consultation Program. Training is offered in many areas, including Right-to-Know, chemical storage hazards in schools, indoor air quality, respiratory protection, the hazards associated with carbon monoxide vapors and others. We are also willing to tailor training sessions to meet the specific needs of a work place.

There is no charge for any of these services. For further information contact the MOSH Consultation Services office.

MOSH Training and Education

Relationship with OSHA

The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 allows for Cooperative Agreements between States and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide consultative services to employers. This service is made available at no cost to employers to assist them in establishing effective occupational safety and health programs. The overall goal is to prevent the occurrence of injuries and illnesses which may result from exposure to hazardous workplace conditions and from hazardous work practices. The principal assistance will be provided at the employer's worksite, but offsite assistance may also be provided.

MOSH and the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have had Cooperative Consultation Agreements since 1976.

The Consultation Program is a confidential service which your firm's name, and any other information you provide and any unsafe or unhealthy working conditions found, will not be reported routinely to the OSHA inspection staff. If you fail to eliminate or control identified "serious" or "imminent danger" hazards, according to the plan discussed during the closing conference, it may result in a referral from Consultation to a MOSH enforcement office. However, referrals from Consultation are very rare.

For additional information and services proved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), visit the OSHA website.