Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Consultation, with assistance from the MOSH Outreach Unit, hosted two Safe + Sound campaign events at the MOSH headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland in 2019. These events encouraged employers and employees to participate in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Safe + Sound campaign by developing new or improved safety and health programs.

On August 14 and 15, 2019, MOSH Consultation and the MOSH Outreach Unit held two Safe + Sound events for 68 participants in workplaces covered by OSHA general industry and construction industry standards. The events featured two sessions on the critical components of a safety and health program – management commitment and employee involvement.

Breakout sessions included a hazard identification lab, a session on interviewing techniques that can be used during an accident investigation or job hazard analysis, and a session on innovative training alternatives that included a demonstration of virtual reality training modules with interactive experiences for participants. MOSH Consultation and the MOSH Outreach Unit facilitated hands-on hazard identification workshops, including a review of safe work practices in the participants’ respective industries. Participants were able to observe and perform mock employee interviews and were provided with a number of tools to help implement or improve their safety and health programs. Local Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) participants gave presentations on workplace safety and health. Participants received handouts that included safety and health program templates, sample work rules, and the OSHA Small Business Handbook.

The MOSH Safe + Sound events serve as an extremely successful model to encourage employers to implement a safety and health program at their workplaces, and to encourage them to use MOSH Consultation services to attain SHARP status. Participants provided positive feedback and said that they would recommend these events to their colleagues.

OSHA On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards and how to fix them, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, train and educate workers, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from OSHA enforcement efforts and do not result in penalties or citations. However, employers must agree to correct any serious and imminent danger hazards identified in a timely manner. To locate the OSHA On-Site Consultation program nearest you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.