ASSE's Latest Virtual Event Focuses on Protecting Temporary Workers

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ASSE will host its latest virtual symposium Feb. 19-20, 2015, this time addressing a problem that is plaguing industry in many settings--Protecting Temporary and Nontraditional Workers. These workers fill a niche and are vital to economic growth, but due to lack of experience, poor training and other factors, they often face tremendous occupational risks.

One key problem has been confusion about who is responsible for these workers' safety--the staffing agency or the host employer. In video remarks he recently shared with ASSE, OSHA Administrator David Michaels says the symposium meets an important need--namely to help OSH professionals better educate host employers and staffing agencies of the need to work together to protect temporary employees from workplace hazards. Improving these lines of communication and ensuring that everyone involved performs their roles will go a long way toward protecting the more than 3 million temporary employees currently working in the U.S., he says. The agency launched an initiative on temporary worker safety in 2013, and continues to focus on achieving better protection for these workers.

American Staffing Association (ASA) also offer several resources on temporary worker safety, including this video. NIOSH and OSHA jointly issue recommended best practices as well.