NIOSH study reveals inadequate safety for temp workers

Not enough safety programs are designed with temporary workers in mind, leaving millions of workers at risk for workplace hazards, a recent study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found.

About 14.5 million temporary workers are hired in the U.S. each year, but NIOSH research reveals that these workers don’t receive the same level of workplace safety as full-time employees. In their study, researchers wanted to gain an understanding of what staffing agencies perceive to be “barriers to and facilitators of temporary worker safety and health.”

Though OSHA and NIOSH have found that staffing agencies and host employers share the responsibility for ensuring the safety of temporary workers, effective safety programs remain inadequate. Staffing representatives stated that differential treatment and a lack of understanding of joint employer responsibilities, among other things, contributed to a lack of safety and health programs for temporary workers. These workers can be better protected if staffing companies conduct host employer assessments and foster strong communication with employers and temporary workers.