Temp worker safety: NIOSH partners on best practices for host employers

Washington — NIOSH, together with several partners, has developed a set of best practices to help employers protect temporary workers from injury and illness.

Protecting Temporary Workers: Best Practices for Host Employers builds on resources developed by OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative, launched in 2013. The best practices are organized into three sections:

• How to evaluate and address workplace safety and health in written contracts
• Training for temp workers and their worksite supervisors
• Injury and illness reporting, response, and recordkeeping

“Unsafe working conditions, unclear job assignments, inadequate training and poor hazard communication put all workers, both temporary and permanent, at risk for injury and illness on the job,” an NIOSH press release states. “The best practices in this new resource are applicable across industries and occupations.”

Included are checklists and real-life scenarios that provide examples of how to implement the recommended practices. In addition, staffing companies have access to a slide deck to help educate host employers.

The National Occupational Research Agenda Services Sector Council, the American Society of Safety Professionals, the American Staffing Association, and the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contributed to the best practices.

“Amidst a pandemic, the importance of keeping workers safe and healthy has never been more important,” NIOSH Director John Howard said. “By following these best practices, host employers can do their part to optimize the safety and health of their workers, both permanent and temporary.”

The NORA Services Sector Council will provide an overview of the best practices during a webinar slated for 11 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 30.