Skip to content 
You need a crew quickly for a demolition project, and you turn to a staffing agency for help. While these workers may only be there temporarily, their safety is just as crucial as that of full-time employees. Staffing agencies can provide quick staffing solutions, but ensuring the health and safety of temporary workers is non-negotiable. Temporary workers are often at greater risk for workplace injuries. A 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed that in some industries, such as construction, temporary workers were twice as likely to be injured compared to permanent employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides guidelines to staffing agencies, host employers, and superintendents on how to ensure the right to a safe and healthy workplace.
The staffing agency and the host employer work together in this role. They combine to ensure a variety of safety measures. The tasks that the temporary worker is expected to perform, and the safety and health responsibilities of each employer (the staffing agency and the host employer), should be stated in the agency-host contract and should be communicated to the worker before that worker begins work at the job site. The agency and the employer should also:
Assess the Job Site
In order to identify and eliminate potential safety and health hazards and identify necessary training and protections for each worker, the agency and the employer should assess the job site prior to work beginning. They should conduct a risk assessment, review the hazards and controls, and discuss the standard operating procedure so that temporary workers are not walking into an unsafe situation.
Train Temporary Workers and Supervisors
OSHA standards require site- and task-specific safety and health training. Training helps to protect the workers of both the staffing agency and the host employer. This training should be the same as that which a long-term employee receives, especially one who is doing the same or similar tasks. Temporary staff should be trained on safety procedures, injury and illness prevention, and their specific tasks and machinery, among other things. Training does not end before the job begins. It is vital that, even with temporary workers, both the staffing agency and the host employer provide an open line of communication to their employees.
The requirements for staffing agencies and host employers are clear through OSHA’s guidelines. Failing to comply with OSHA standards can result in serious consequences for both staffing agencies and host employers. In 2022 alone, nearly 25% of OSHA’s penalties to staffing agencies were for violations related to inadequate safety training and failure to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to temporary workers. The integral role of superintendents and other on-site supervisors in health and safety is less clear but still vital on the job site.
Maintain Straightforward Communication
On-site supervisors are the daily first point of contact for temporary workers. Clear communication from supervisors is just as important as allowing temporary workers an avenue to communicate with a supervisor. One of the major roles that a supervisor plays on the job site is ensuring proper reporting processes. It’s important that both employees and supervisors have straightforward access to reporting systems to flag potential safety risks. Encouraging the reporting of incidents and hazards enables you to address concerns before they escalate, helping to prevent accidents and establish a proactive safety culture in your organization. On-site supervisors help ensure these practices.
Keep the Job Site Organized
It is a supervisor’s job to ensure that a job site is clean, well-maintained, and well-organized. Debris, clutter, and mess can easily cause accidents or injuries if not addressed. Supervisors should make sure that all tools and machinery are properly stored, maintained, and cleaned. Improper use of machinery is one of the top causes of on-site injury. Supervisors of temporary workers must be trained on what tasks and equipment they are allowed and not allowed to use. Supervisors should also provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers when on the site. PPE reduces the chance of injury and protects workers from hazards onsite.
Ensuring the safety of temporary workers is a shared responsibility between staffing agencies, host employers, and on-site supervisors. Each party plays a vital role in creating a secure and healthy workplace, from conducting thorough job site assessments to providing proper training and maintaining clear lines of communication. Supervisors, in particular, are essential to maintaining job site organization and safety protocols. By following OSHA’s guidelines and fostering a proactive safety culture, both temporary and long-term employees can perform their tasks with confidence, knowing their well-being is a priority.