ASA and NSC Publish Joint Case Study on Temp Worker Safety

There were approximately 3.17 million temporary workers and independent contractors hired in the second quarter of 2016. While that number accounts for just a fraction of the country's total workforce, temporary workers play an important role. They fill much-needed jobs, ensuring that companies can continue conducting their day-to-day operations. But temporary workers often face the possibility of injury, as companies disregard basic safety rules.

Thankfully, there are organizations looking to protect temporary workers from injury. Earlier this month, for instance, the American Staffing Association (ASA) and the National Safety Council (NSC) published a new case study analyzing the safety of temporary workers along with rules and laws that employers must follow to ensure the safety of temporary workers.

While the case study is fictional, it's based on violations reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) affecting temporary workers who were injured on the job. In this particular case study, a temp staffing agency assigned a worker to an employer's worksite for welding work. The temporary worker, however, is asked to use a portable generator and welding arc indoors, which as you may already know emits harmful fumes.

As explained by Amy Harper, the aforementioned case study shows a lack of communication between the staffing firm and employer, which subsequently places the temporary worker at risk for serious injury. Staffing firms and employers must communicate with one another to ensure that temporary workers know (and follow) all of the necessary safety precautions.

"The case study illustrates how lack of communication and coordination between a staffing firm and a host employer can adversely impact the wellbeing of a temporary worker,” said Amy Harper, National Safety Council director of workplace strategy and Journey to Safety Excellence. “Each employer must know and reliably carry out their respective roles in hazard identification, safety training, and injury reporting and recording.”

The ASA and NSC went one step further by providing recommendations on how to improve the safety for temporary workers. One such recommendation is for staffing companies and employers to discuss among themselves which company governs workplace activities, conditions and hazards. Once this is determined, it should be included in a written agreement.

The ASA and NSC also recommend staffing and host employers adopt procedures to ensure that all necessary safety requirements are met.