Temporary workers are those supplied to a host employer and paid by a staffing agency, whether or not the job is actually temporary. Whether temporary or permanent, all workers always have a right to a safe and healthy workplace. The staffing agency and the staffing agency’s client (the host employer) are joint employers of temporary workers, and both are responsible for providing and maintaining a safe work environment for those workers.
Each employer should consider the hazards it is in a position to prevent and correct, and in a position to comply with OSHA standards. For example, staffing agencies might provide general safety and health training, and host employers provide specific training tailored to the particular workplace equipment and hazards. The key is communication between the agency and the host employer to ensure that the necessary protections are provided.
OSHA’s Protecting Temporary Workers webpage offers a wide range of resources. Learn More