Did you know, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development has a free evaluation on potential safety or health hazards available to privately-owned Garden State businesses?

NJDOL’s Occupational Safety and Health On-Site Consultation Program are provided by the Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health. Employers are able to set the parameters for the review, with visits able to encompass a look at physical dangers, air quality, noise and more.

According to the department, the reviews do not result in fines or citations.

In a statement, Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said DOL conducted about 400 consultations last year.

“With nearly 275,000 private-sector worksites in this state, we hope that all New Jersey business owners take the opportunity to utilize this free service so an unsafe work environment never leads to bigger and more costly issues,” Asaro-Angelo said.

Participation in the consultation program can qualify employers for recognition in the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program or the Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Awards. According to the department, a SHARP-certified worksite is exempt from general OSHA inspections for up to two years.

NJDOL said it also offers safety training courses.

“Recognizing and fixing problems before they become major complications can help businesses save on extensive improvements as well as cut down on expenditures related to workers’ compensation,” Mark Wadiak, assistant director of workplace standards in the NJDOL Office of Occupational Health and Safety, said in a prepared statement, adding: “Safety pays.”

You can request a consultation form here, and more information on the program is available on the NJDOL’s program page.