Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Remember. that. company. personnel. will. have. to. work. with. the. consultant. The.
chemistry. between. the. consultant. and. the. company's. team. needs. to. be. there..
The attitude.of.the.consultant.may.be.as.important.as.his.or.her.abilities,.as.the.con-
sultant.must.work.within.your.company's.framework.and.with.others.and.yourself..
The consultant's.inability.to.communicate.effectively.can.doom.the.project.
summAry
When.a.qualiied.and.experienced.safety.and.health.consultant.is.selected,.it.is.much.
more.likely.that
•.
Money.and.time.will.be.saved.
•.
Projects. will. be. done. only. once,. because. they. will. be. done. correctly. the.
irst.time.
•.
Relationships.with.regulatory.agencies.will.be.beneicial.and.cooperative.
•.
Essential.reporting.to.agencies.will.be.completed.in.a.timely.manner.
•.
The.client,.the.consultant,.and.the.regulatory.staff.will.be.satisied.with.the.
inal.outcome.
•.
Projects.will.be.completed.safely,.and.unexpected.events.will.be.minimized.
Consulting.services.are.an.important.function.in.providing.assistance.relevant.
to. safety. and. health. issues.. A. consultant. is. always. willing. to. provide. safety. and.
health.services..However,.depending.on.the.urgency.of.the.situation.or.the.types.
of. safety. and. health. services. needed,. the. cost. may. be. quite. high.. Nevertheless,.
these.costs.are.often.justiiable.because.it.is.sometimes.dificult.to.secure.a.con-
sultant.who.has.the.expertise.needed.to.assist.with.speciic.problems..Remember.
that.the.low.bid.for.a.consultant.may.not.be.in.the.company's.best.interest.if.he.or.
she.does.not.have.the.expertise.to.provide.the.solution.needed..For.a.lower.price,.
the.company.may.get.a.less.qualiied.consultant..Once.a.consultant.is.selected,.a.
contractual. agreement. must. be. developed.. This. agreement. should. delineate. the.
services.to.be.provided,.the.outcomes.or.products.to.be.attained,.and.the.follow-up.
obligations.required.
Most.consultants.are.skilled.safety.and.health.professionals.who.bring.to.the.table.
years.of.experience.and.unique.expertise..The.service.that.they.offer.is.well.worth.
the.price..Using.a.planned.approach.will.ensure.that.the.company.is.getting.the.con-
sultant.that.is.needed.for.the.job..However,.be.cautious!.There.are.some.individuals.
out.there.who.are.less.scrupulous.and.will.deceive.the.company.and.be.happy.to.take.
its.money,.waste.time,.and.leave.the.company.with.an.inferior.product.or.no.product..
As.Linda.F..Johnson.advises,.“As.in.all.business.decisions,.do.your.homework.”
reFerences
Johnson,.L..F.,.Choosing.a.safety.consultant..
Occupational Safety and Health,
.July.1999.
Reese,.C..D..and.J..V..Eidson..
Handbook of OSHA construction safety & health.
.Boca.Raton,.
FL:.CRC.Press/Lewis.Publishers,.1999.
