Written by Gabe Garcia PCG, PCC, PCM, USF SafetyFlorida Safety Supervisor

If you work in the private sector, in a high-risk area, and you have less than 250 employees at your site and no more than 500 company-wide you are in luck. The USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program is part of a broad network of occupational safety and health services funded largely by federal OSHA in all 50 states and US territories aimed at delivering professional consultative safety and health services.

USF SafetyFlorida exists to assist small to medium size businesses obtain the assistance needed to provide their employees a healthy and safe workplace and maintain OSHA compliance.

The Program has three (3) core advantages. First, it is completely free. Regardless of the number of visits and types of visits, our services are at no cost to you. Second, the program does not cite or issue penalties.  Despite how many hazards we find, we work with you to get them abated and take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence. Third, the program services offered are confidential. The consultant will not provide the name of your company, its owners, or any information you provide about your workplace to OSHA enforcement staff. *This is contingent upon the employer correcting any serious hazards identified during the consultation visit. Not to worry! Your request for consultation service will not trigger a federal or state OSHA inspection.

Several benefits to small business owners who utilize our services include:

Developing an effective Safety and Health Management Plan (SHMP)

As technology becomes more integrated into our daily operations, new dangers can appear in places we thought we had covered. Safety and health management plans should be reviewed periodically to enhance your training and self-inspection programs and to achieve reduced illness and injury rates.

Identifying Potential Hazards in Your Workplace

Whether we are conducting a full, comprehensive wall-to-wall assessment, or a limited scope visit to evaluate a specific task, if hazards are observed during the visit, not only will we not cite nor penalize you, but we will suggest the best approach and available options for solving a safety or health problem, until the hazard(s) has been abated. Furthermore, our industrial hygiene experts on staff provide a plethora of services to include noise level monitoring, silica, lead, and other chemical exposure assessment/sampling.

Providing a Written Report That Summarizes the Findings

This comprehensive report will include a cover sheet, executive summary, complete description of what was covered during the visit including hazard identification, hazard correction information, injuries/illness comparison within the industry NAICS code, pictures (if taken), suggestions to prevent a recurrence, positive observations, and a safety and health program assessment worksheet.

Tailored training and education for you and your employees at your workplace and, in some cases, away from your worksite

The USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center (OTIEC) works in conjunction with the Program to provide over 40 formal OSHA training courses that not only issue certificates but also continuing education credits. These courses are offered online, virtually, in person at the OTI Center, in the field, or by contract.

Note: Some of these courses require a fee.

Our website also provides a wealth of information and resources, access to complimentary outreach training, access to resources to include SafetyWriter, our state-of-the-art customizable safety and health management plan template generator, and access our comprehensive video library training program, which includes videos in DVD format and live streaming in multiple languages.

For more information regarding USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program and the USF OTIEC, please visit our website at www.usfsafetyflorida.com or call toll-free at (866) 273-1105.

Gabe Garcia, PCG, PCC, PCM
Safety Supervisor
USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program