small business resources
WOSHTEP and LOHP have developed easy-to-use training materials for small businesses that may not have a large enough staff to allow participation in the 24-hour WOSH Specialist training. To date, we have issued packets of training material for restaurants, janitorial services, and produced a general version for any small business. This training may be adapted for owners and managers in other targeted industries in the future.
Visit the Commission on Health & Safety and Workers' Compensation for more information on other WOSHTEP Small Business resources.
These training materials can help small business owners and managers:
- prevent job injuries and illnesses
- lower workers’ compensation costs
- reduce the number of days away form work and lost productivity and
- meet training requirements under California’s occupational health and safety laws.
California Small Business Safety Training Materials
This packet of materials can be used for safety training in any California small business. It includes a training guide to engage workers in identifying and controlling hazards in their own workplace, a Safety Orientation Checklist to encourage workers to be aware of hazards, and Tip Sheets for workers on topics of special concern to small businesses. There are also factsheets directed primarily at owners and employers, including an overview of Cal/OSHA and an explanation of how small businesses can benefit from improved safety programs.
Click here to view the California small business training materials in our publications section.
California Janitorial Safety Training Materials
The Janitorial Safety Training Program is available for small business owners and managers who need to train janitorial employees working alone or in small teams to clean buildings. The training materials include a training guide, and focus on health and safety in the janitorial industry. The following topics are covered: Safety Orientation; Chemical Hazards; Electrical Hazards; Ergonomic Hazards; Injuries on the Job; Planning for Emergencies; Robberies and Assaults; and Slips and Falls.
Click here to view the janitorial safety training materials in our publications
section, available in both English and Spanish.
California Restaurant Safety Training Materials
A small business training program is currently available for owners and managers of small restaurants in California. The materials include: a training guide to engage workers in identifying and controlling health and safety hazards in their own restaurant; a Safety Orientation Checklist to prepare new workers to be aware of hazards; and Tip Sheets on preventing burns and cuts, preventing slips and falls, preventing injuries from ergonomic hazards and from robberies and assaults, planning for emergencies on the job, and dealing with injuries on the job.
Click here to view the restaurant training materials in our publications section, available in both English and Spanish.
National Small Business Safety Training Materials
With funding from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Dept. of Labor, LOHP has also issued a national version of the small business training materials described above. At present, materials are available only in English.
Click here to
view the national small business training materials in our publications
section.
Small Business Trainings in Northern CA
Through funding from the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation, the Small Business Project is available to conduct free workshops to introduce small business owners, managers and supervisors to these materials, and to provide them with strategies for strengthening their health and safety programs. Training topics include: safety trainings for any small business, janitorial services industry, and the restaurant industry.
For more information, or for upcoming
workshop schedules, contact Diane at dbush@berkeley.edu or
(510) 643-2424.