NFIB

SBA and OSHA Offer Counseling and Training for Small Business Owners
04/21/2003

from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Seattle District Office

(Seattle, Washington) -- The Seattle District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Region X) have signed a memorandum of understanding that will offer small business owners free counseling and training on OSHA programs at the SBA's Business Enterprise Center in Seattle.

Workshops will be offered the third Monday of every month, from noon to 1:00 p.m., at the SBA's Business Enterprise Center located at 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1700 in downtown Seattle, beginning April 21. OSHA staff members will present information about safety and health programs and how they affect businesses. Participants will receive a Small Business CD containing OSHA standards, required Federal and State posters, recordkeeping requirements, and other free resources, and will be able to ask questions.

Richard Terrill, regional administrator for the Seattle regional office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said the workshops will benefit small business owners by giving them compliance assistance and information on how to prevent workplace injuries which will ultimately save them money. "OSHA wants to reach existing and start-up small businesses and communicate the value of safety and health as part of their business plans," Terrill said.

Bob Meredith, district director for the SBA's Seattle District Office, endorsed the alliance between the SBA and OSHA. "OSHA and other regulations can be a significant challenge to prospective and existing businesses," said Meredith. "This is the first OSHA-SBA partnership in the country, and we are delighted that our local business owners will be able to benefit."

OSHA will also provide one-on-one counseling on the third Monday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the SBA's Business Enterprise Center