OSHA Releases New Guidance on Temporary Workers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released two new temporary worker guidance documents that further emphasize the shared responsibility of staffing agencies and host employers for the temporary workers’ safety and health. These documents, relating to respiratory protection and to noise exposure and hearing conservation, are part of OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative. OSHA takes the position that temporary workers are jointly employed by the staffing agency and the host employer, and the guidance documents address what both the staffing agency and the host employer can do to ensure that temporary workers are appropriately protected in accordance with OSHA standards.