An agreement was entered in March of 2006 between NFIB Member Benefits (MSC), Evergreen Safety Council (ESC), a private, not for profit corporation located in Seattle, and state agency? Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) - an arm of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to put together a state-specific CD to educate our members on the Washington state requirements and add rewards for doing so.

Why do I need a Washington state specific CD? Wouldn't a standard national one work?

As a Washington state employer you need to be aware of the many areas where Washington state's laws and regulations differ from the federal laws and regulations on safety and health. Washington is a "delegated state" which means that it has authority from OSHA to do its own regulation and enforcement rather than using OSHA staff. To remain a "delegated state" and receive the federal funding which supplements the state funding of the Department of Labor and Industries' Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), our state's laws and regulations must be "at least as effective as" the federal laws and regulations. Washington has a history of not only being as effective as but also going beyond federal laws and regulations and the state law is the one that applies for your business.

Note: Businesses in the agricultural industry should NOT use this CD to obtain the Certificate of Completion as specific requirements regarding this industry are not included on the CD. Please contact Evergreen Safety Council at 800-521-0778 for information on L & I requirements specific to this industry.

How does the program work?

Using the Safety CD, you will be able to conduct a workplace assessment and create a written Safety Plan specific to your business. Upon completion of the Safety Plan, you may elect to do one of the two following actions:

Option One - Self Audit

Continue to review the Safety CD and you will be instructed on completing a safety-audit of your workplace. By participating in the Self-Audit, the member will be eligible to receive a Self Audit Certificate of Completion. By obtaining this certificate, if L&I happens to visit the business via a random audit and finds a "serious" violation within twelve months of the date of completion, you will be eligible to have the fine reduced or waived if you correct the problem within thirty days.

Option Two - Safe Harbor

Rather than completing the Option One self-audit, the participant may choose to request an audit from Labor & Industries/DOSH consultants at no charge with assurances that the information gathered by the consultant would not be shared with DOSH compliance personnel; or, you may choose to have a consultation performed by Evergreen Safety Council at a discounted rate. Upon completion of the on site audit and completion of making suggested changes from the audit, a Certificate of Completion will be granted and a ? Safe Harbor ? from routine DOSH compliance inspections for a 12-month period will be granted, except in the case of a serious work related injury, fatality or employee complaint.

How do I get started?

An NFIB member may purchase the safety CD for $60 (plus $9.00 shipping, handling and tax) and enroll in this program by downloading the NFIB Safety CD-ROM Registration Form or call (800) 521-0778 to have a form mailed or faxed.

I am not an NFIB member. Can I participate?

Only NFIB members can be part of this program. You may join NFIB by visiting www.NFIB.com/learnmore and enter reference code WASAFETY on the join screen when prompted. Cost of a one-year NFIB membership is $250.00. The CD Safety Program is sold separately through ESC, so please make note of your NFIB membership number as it is required to enroll in the program.

How long is my business protected after completing the program, and how do I keep enrolled to receive these benefits?

You are protected for 12-months from the program completion date. You may re-enroll before your expiration date to renew for the following year and so on. You must keep your NFIB membership in good standing to be eligible for participation in this member benefit program.

What other benefits can my business receive when participating in the program?

The following services are also available to businesses participating in the Safety CD Program:

• Remote Consulting: Up to two-hours per year of consulting service is available to you. Simply call, email or fax your question to Evergreen Safety Council , and we will respond with an answer you can trust within two business days.
• On-Site consulting is available at a discounted rate, plus expenses/travel.
• Safety Training Courses are available at ESC's Training Center in Seattle at a discounted rate. Check our website for a schedule of classes.

Who do I contact if I was unable to find the answer to my question on this FAQ sheet?

Please call the ESC office at (800) 521-0778, email us at nfib@esc.org or visit www.NFIB.com/WA Safety to find out more or ask questions about the Evergreen Safety Council / NFIB Washington Workplace Safety CD Program.