Building a culture of safety is essential for manufacturing and light industrial companies. Collaborating with staffing firms creates a shared understanding of safety protocols. Providing tailored safety measures addressing specific workplace risks fosters a unified approach to maintaining a safe environment. 

Prioritizing workplace safety shows the workforce is valued and respected. Partnering with safety-focused staffing firms helps streamline business operations and reduce the risks of incidents.  

Staffing Firm and Client Safety Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) holds staffing firms and client companies jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment. OSHA’s stance is that whichever party is better suited to support the workforce’s safety must be the one doing so. These responsibilities include fulfilling OSHA’s training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping requirements.  

Staffing firms and client companies must clarify who fulfills each safety requirement to maintain compliance. Including each party’s duties and responsibilities in the staffing contract helps maintain workforce safety.

Staffing Firm and Client Safety Actions 

Staffing firms should take these actions when partnering with manufacturing and light industrial client companies:

  • Visually inspect the work environment to ensure safety.
  • Understand potential worksite hazards and how protections are implemented. 
  • Detail safety duties and expectations in the staffing contract. 
  • Provide workers with general safety training before an assignment begins.
  • Regularly communicate with workers and the client company to ensure safety compliance.
  • Quickly respond to any incidents.
  • Maintain worksite access in case a post-incident investigation is needed.

Manufacturing and light industrial client companies should take these actions when partnering with staffing firms:

  • Clarify safety duties, responsibilities, and expectations with the staffing firm. 
  • Talk with the staffing firm before changing a worker’s job duties. Make sure the firm notes the changes in the staffing contract.
  • Collaborate with the staffing firm during onboarding to verify the workers can perform the tasks. 
  • Provide workers with relevant OSHA, work environment, hazardous chemicals, and hazard communication training. Ensure the content and duration are equal to the training employees receive. 
  • Verify that workers understand safety expectations, physical demands, and potential worksite hazards.
  • Educate workers on using personal protective equipment (PPE). 
  • Monitor workers’ performance to maintain safety standards.
  • Maintain OSHA recordkeeping and other compliance requirements. 
  • Promptly communicate with the staffing firm about any incidents.

Staffing Firm and Client Safety Best Practices

These best practices help staffing firms and client companies collaborate on maintaining a safe work environment:

  • Thoroughly onboard and train workers: Verify workers clearly understand safety policies and protocols. 
  • Educate on emergency action plans: Ensure workers know the policies and procedures for reporting an incident and how to respond to an emergency. 
  • Continuously assess risks: Preventing and minimizing hazards elevates workforce safety and strengthens OSHA compliance.
  • Monitor the workforce: Make sure safety protocols are followed and potential hazards are reported.
  • Frequently provide safety training: Updated training ensures workers correctly perform their job duties, operate equipment, and follow safety protocols.
  • Regularly communicate: Frequently interact through phone calls and email. A staffing firm representative should regularly tour the work environment and talk with the workers. The client should quickly report incidents.

The following key indicators show a staffing firm’s commitment to safety.

Proactive Risk Management

Risk management processes identify, assess, and address potential risks before they lead to incidents. Anticipating and minimizing risks increases workplace safety, efficiency, and operational resilience. 

Regular safety audits help maintain a healthy work environment. Uncovering risks and continuously improving helps the workforce feel secure and protected.

A representative from a safety-conscious manufacturing and light industrial staffing company:

  • Conducts regular worksite evaluations at client sites. They review safety documentation and evaluate the work environment, tools, equipment, and standard operating procedures to uncover potential hazards. 
  • Evaluates the jobs and how the work is performed, including any daily productivity expectations. 
  • Collaborates with the manufacturing or light industrial firm to implement clear protocols for responding to, documenting, and investigating any reported safety concerns or hazards and ensuring they are addressed to prevent future incidents.

Safety-Focused Onboarding and Training

Thorough onboarding and comprehensive training strengthen manufacturing and light industrial workforce safety:

  • Staffing firm-provided onboarding and safety training: The staffing firm representative should provide general safety orientation and information about the job and client company’s policies. The workers should understand the job details and expectations and anticipate customized training to handle workplace hazards.
  • Client safety training: The client company should provide comprehensive training on site-specific safety protocols and procedures relevant to the job, including PPE, machinery operation, and emergency procedures. 
  • Specialized safety training: The company should provide specialized safety training for forklift operators and other jobs involving specific hazards. 
  • Refresher safety training: The client company should provide refresher safety training annually and when workplace hazards change. More frequent training might be needed to comply with OSHA requirements.

Adherence to Workforce Safety Regulations

A safety-focused staffing firm does the following to maintain compliance with local, state, and federal safety regulations:

  • Stays current on safety regulations
  • Collaborates with client companies to ensure compliance with OSHA standards and guidelines
  • Encourages employees to report unsafe work conditions and practices without fear of retaliation 
  • Ensures client companies thoroughly document safety training
  • Documents reported incidents  

Transparency in Workplace Safety  

Effective communication ensures manufacturing and light industrial workforces know and understand safety protocols and potential hazards. Transparency fosters trust and accountability to elevate safety and reduce incidents. 

A staffing firm that values workplace transparency:

  • Establishes clear channels for reporting safety concerns, near misses, and incidents.
  • Encourages employees to discuss issues and anticipate having them promptly addressed without repercussions.
  • Prioritizes accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Provides the required recordkeeping log information to maintain OSHA compliance. 

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Ongoing evaluation and enhancement of safety practices ensure manufacturing and light industrial companies adapt to risks and maintain high workforce protection standards. These processes include:

  • Investing in digital training platforms, safety management software, incident tracking systems, and related technologies. 
  • Staying updated on workplace safety regulations, technologies, and best practices.
  • Seeking constructive client and employee feedback to uncover areas for improvement.

Protect Your People. Strengthen Your Workforce.

In today’s unpredictable world, safety and reliability aren’t optional—they’re essential. Ōnin doesn’t just talk about safety—we invest in it. From dependable staffing to proactive risk management, we help you protect your team and your bottom line.

Discover how Ōnin is tackling today’s toughest workforce challenges—safely and reliably.

 

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