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.