For five decades, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been working with small and medium-sized businesses to enhance workplace safety through its On-Site Consultation Program. This initiative offers assistance in identifying hazards and improving safety measures at no cost, while maintaining confidentiality.
Since its inception in 1975, the program has expanded its reach across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. The program aims to help employers improve safety practices without initiating OSHA enforcement actions.
In recent years, the program has conducted an average of nearly 24,000 visits annually to worksites, predominantly those with 250 or fewer employees. These efforts have prevented exposure to hazards for nearly three million workers each year. A 2023 economic analysis by OSHA estimated that these initiatives generate $1.5 billion in national benefits annually by reducing injuries and illnesses, lowering workers' compensation costs, and boosting productivity.
Over its history, the program reached a milestone of over one million visits in 2010 and played a role in recovery efforts following national disasters such as 9/11 and Hurricanes Katrina and Maria. It also introduced digital resources like the Small Business Handbook app to make safety information more accessible. Additionally, it established the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), which honors small businesses with exemplary safety programs. SHARP status provides a deferral from programmed OSHA inspections and acknowledges companies as leaders in workplace safety; currently about 1,000 employers are recognized under this program.
As it celebrates this significant anniversary, OSHA is reaffirming its commitment to science-based solutions that protect workers while supporting business success for many years ahead.
Learn more about OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program and how it helps small businesses create safer workplaces.
