The walk-through provides the employer the opportunity to point out areas of concern. At the same time, this is your opportunity to take advantage of the professional consultant's trained and objective eye to pinpoint problems you may not have been aware of, and at your request, he or she can offer valuable training to your management team and workers.

Worker participation in the walk-through is crucial in gaining a realistic picture of worksite conditions, and we strongly encourage it. An important part of making any workplace safer is better-trained, more alert workers. Your consultant will want to hear what they have to say about hazard and safety issues.

A comprehensive jobsite review always includes a thorough inspection of the building itself, including structural soundness, stairways, electrical hazards, machine guards, exits and fire protection equipment. He or she will also check aisles and areas between machines for adequate space, heavy equipment and storage areas. Electronic and other controls for protecting workers from corrosives, air contaminants and toxic substances will be examined carefully. He or she will note the availability and condition of protective gear.

Problems due to excessive noise, vibration, extreme heat or cold, or light also will be examined. In every case, your consultant will offer the most practical and widely accepted solutions to these workplace issues. Another potential problem area is general housekeeping of the worksite, including care and maintenance of portable power tools. And the consultant will want to talk to workers about job training, supervision and safety and health orientation and procedures. He or she can offer assistance in strengthening your existing programs or establishing new ones that emphasize worksite communication about safety and health.

Following the walk-through, you and the consultant will discuss what he or she has discovered. This is the moment when you, the manager, receives the knowledge that will give you control over the high cost of injuries and lost productivity. You will learn what is effective in your operation and what needs improvement. The consultant will let you know the problem areas, and together you can agree upon a reasonable timetable for fixing them.

The consultant also can help you modify your company's health and safety plan, train employees in new practices and establish more effective accountability for both supervisors and workers. Consultants also can offer on-site and, in some cases, off-site training for managers and workers and can help you to qualify for exemptions from scheduled OSHA inspections under the SHARP and VPP programs. They can even analyze your OSHA log of illnesses and injuries and suggest ways to prevent future incidents and lower workers' compensation costs.

Following the consultant's visit, you'll receive a written report detailing everything that was learned. It will explain the findings in detail and confirm the timetable you have agreed upon for correcting problems. And it will recommend appropriate remediation techniques for controlling hazards and improving your health and safety program.

It is important to understand that participation in the program does require you to correct all identified hazards so that workers are effectively protected. And though it is rare, if an employer fails to follow the agreed-upon plan within the timetable or any extensions, the matter can be turned over to an OSHA enforcement office.