May Your First Office Space Be a Safe One

June 24, 2013- The Charlotte Observer recently released an interview with Ed Foulke, former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health and head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from 2006 to 2008, regarding how to set up your first office space to ensure safety and avoid potential liability.

Once you "outgrow the spare bedroom", there are pitfalls to be on the alert for when moving your business into a commercial space. 

Foulke warns, "... many small business owners assume there are no safety or health issues or that those issues are handled by the seller or rental management agent." This is the sort of assumption that proves the old adage — and could entail significant OSHA penalties for safety and health violations. 

As soon as you hire your first employee, you are subject to OSHA regulations and compliance. You also need to be aware of health and safety laws of individual states and local governments.

The three main concerns are:

1. The safety of the physical structure being purchased or rented. It is critical to obtain written assurances that the space is in full compliance with state and local building codes, the life safety codes and all OSHA safety and health standards.
   
2. The selection of equipment and office furniture. There must be free access to all exits for emergency use.  Owners should also review ergonomic issues, electrical and tripping hazards.
3. Other safety and health issues. Multiple state and local safety regulations including those that would necessitate the use of personal protective equipment, or if any safety training will be necessary to meet OSHA standards.
   

In addition, if your employees are present while the space is being setup and/or outside contractors are involved, OSHA’s multi-employer citation policy could be applicable. “If outside vendors and contractors are working on or in the entrepreneur’s space, the entrepreneur becomes the ‘controlling’ employer of the site and thus is responsible for any safety and health violations caused by the contractor or vendor where employees are exposed to a safety or health hazard.”

Foulke concludes, “These issues can be easily addressed, but it is critical that the small business owner realizes and addresses those issues before they become potential OSHA violations.” 

Read the entire post here. For additional small business resources, visit www.osha.gov.

Carnow Conibear and Associates is a demonstrated leader in the occupational and environmental health professions since 1975. To find out more, click here or call us at (800) 860-4486.