b"US Department of Labor celebratesMedia Contact: 50 years of partnering with smallKristen Knebel, 202-693-businesses to save lives, prevent in- 3435, knebel.kristen.cr@dol.gov juries, strengthen bottom lineRelease Number: 25-850-NAT WASHINGTONFor more than half a century, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's On-Site Consultation Program has been helping small and medium-sized businesses protect workers and improve safety at no cost and with complete confidentiality. Launched in 1975, OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program has grown to serve all 50 states, the Dis-trict of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. It helps employers identify workplace hazards, im-prove safety practices, and build strong safety and health programs, all without triggering OSHA en-forcement. In the last decade alone, the program averaged near-ly 24,000 worksite visits annually98 percent to worksites with 250 or fewer employeesand pre-vented nearly three million workers from exposure to hazards each year. A 2023 OSHA economic anal-ysis estimated that these efforts generate $1.5 bil-lion in national benefits annually through fewer in-juries and illnesses, lower workers' compensation costs, and increased productivity. Over its 50 years, the program surpassed one mil-lion visits in 2010; supported recovery efforts fol-lowing national disasters such as 9/11 and Hurri-canes Katrina and Maria; launched digital resources like the Small Business Handbook app to make safety information more accessible; and created the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Pro-gram, which honors small businesses with outstand-ing safety programs. SHARP status includes a de-ferral from programmed OSHA inspections and marks a company as an industry leader in workplace safety. Currently, SHARP recognizes approximately 1,000 employers for their exceptional safety leader-ship. As it marks this milestone, OSHA is reaffirming its dedication to practical, science-based solutions that protect workers and support business success for the next 50 years and beyond. Learn more about OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program and how it helps small businesses create safer workplaces. 8"