OSHA has a Small Business Handbook available to employers.  This booklet is not intended to be a legal interpretation of the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or to place any additional requirements on employers or employees.  The book along with OSHA’s FREE On-Site Consultation Service can assist small businesses in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program, funded largely by the agency, is a service provided to employers at no cost. Through this program, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their occupational safety and health management systems and even qualify for a 1-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections.  The On-site Consultation Program can help small bussinesses achieve Sharp StatusHow You Can Participate In SHARP
To participate in SHARP, you must: 

• Request a consultation visit that involves a complete hazard identification survey;
• Involve employees in the consultation process;
• Correct all hazards identified by the consultant;
• Implement and maintain a safety and health management system that, at a minimum, addresses OSHA’s 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines;
• Lower your company’s Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate and Total Recordable Case (TRC) rate below the national average; and
• Agree to notify your state Consultation Project Office prior to making any changes in the working conditions or introducing new hazards into the workplace.

The important fact to remember is, consultation services are totally separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations.  Your only obligation will be to commit yourself to correcting serious job safety and health hazards — a commitment which you are expected to make prior to the actual visit and carry out in a timely manner.