Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who pays for your services?

The vast majority of our services are grant funded. There is no cost to participants, employees or employers.

Do you report workplace problems back to the state?

We have no regulatory authority and provide no safety reports to NYS, the federal government or anyone else except you. Our ergonomic assessments also go only to you.

However we can and do work with both NYS and federal OSHA and EPA offices.  There are many excellent, free and voluntary programs that these entities provide to employers and we encourage employers to take advantage of them.  In addition, we do assist workers to file formal complaints when an employer is unresponsive to legitimate requests to address a safety or health hazard.

Am I under any obligation from the state or OSHA to follow your recommendations?

We may give you injury prevention recommendations in addition to training. These may also be NYS or federal OSHA or EPA regulations.  Our only intention is to help prevent injuries and improve the safety and health of workers.  From our experience, regulatory agencies, like OSHA and EPA, except in case of egregious and imminent danger concerns, are most interested in correcting safety and health hazards, not punitive actions.

What parts of New York State do you provide services?

Midstate COSH started 25 years ago; during those years we have done health and safety training and advocacy in Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Tioga, Broome and Chemung Counties; when we combined efforts with the Tompkins County Workers’ Center 3 or 4 years ago, we have also began training in the southern parts of Cayuga and Seneca Counties.