Temporary & Staffing Agency Workers
Temp and day-labor workers are often sent to unfamiliar sites with little training, and are injured at higher rates. You have the same safety rights as permanent workers.
- Construction
- General Industry
- State-specific
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
Who’s responsible?
OSHA treats the staffing agency and the host employer (the company where you actually work) as jointly responsible for your safety:
- Staffing agency: general safety training, checking that the host site is safe, and staying in touch with you about hazards.
- Host employer: site-specific training, PPE for the specific hazards, and the same protections it gives its own employees.
- Both must make sure injuries are reported and recorded.
For pay, the agency is usually your employer, but the host employer may also be liable for unpaid wages in some situations.
Questions to ask before you go
- What work will I be doing, and what equipment will I use?
- What training will I get, and who provides it?
- What PPE will I need, and who provides it?
- Who do I report injuries or hazards to?
- How and when will I be paid, and for which hours (including travel and waiting)?
State protections
Some states have extra protections for temp and day laborers. For example, Illinois has a Day and Temporary Labor Services Act with rules about pay statements, transportation, safety training and equal pay in certain situations. Massachusetts, New Jersey and others also have temp-worker laws.
Don’t do work you weren’t trained for (forklifts, confined spaces, scaffolds) just because the host asks. Call your agency first.
Standards & references
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