If you need an OSHA-compliant written safety program, there are three ways to get one. Each has different costs, timelines, and tradeoffs. This guide walks through all three honestly so you can make the right call for your situation.
There's no single "best" option. The right choice depends on your company size, your deadline, your budget, and how much safety knowledge you already have.
Option 1: Do It Yourself
Do It Yourself (DIY)
Best for: safety professionals who know OSHA✓ Pros: Zero cost if you don't count your time. You understand your own work best. No one knows your operations like you do. If you have safety training or a CSP/CHST credential, you can write excellent programs.
✗ Cons: Extremely time-consuming. OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR 1926) are complex — knowing which standards apply to your work, what each written program must contain, and how to write it in a way that satisfies an inspector or RAVS reviewer is not intuitive. Most contractors who try to DIY either never finish or produce something with critical gaps they don't know about.
✗ The hidden cost: If you bill $75/hour and it takes you 30 hours to write a safety program, that's $2,250 in opportunity cost — more than hiring a professional. And that assumes you get it right the first time.
When DIY works
- You have a safety background (CSP, CHST, or 30-hour OSHA training at minimum)
- You have no deadline pressure
- Your trade is relatively low-hazard and requires fewer required programs
- You enjoy this kind of work and have time to do it properly
When DIY backfires
- You're under a GC deadline or ISNetworld RAVS review
- You're not sure which OSHA standards apply to your work
- You've started writing it three times and never finished
- You have less than a week and other jobs to run
Option 2: Hire a Safety Consultant
Safety Consultant
Best for: large contractors, high-hazard work, ongoing safety management✓ Pros: A good consultant produces the highest-quality output. They know the standards deeply, understand what OSHA inspectors look for, and can tailor programs to your specific operations, crew size, and state. If you're dealing with ISNetworld or Avetta, experienced consultants know exactly what those platforms' RAVS reviewers check.
✓ Pros: You also get a professional who can answer questions, help you set up safety meetings, and update programs as regulations change — if you pay for ongoing service.
✗ Cons: Cost and timeline are the killers for small contractors. A boutique consultant charges $2,000–$8,000 for a comprehensive safety program. Large safety firms charge much more. And the timeline is weeks, not days — which is a dealbreaker when a GC needs your program by next week.
✗ Cons: Quality is not guaranteed. Not every consultant is excellent. Some produce generic programs at premium prices. Ask for samples and references before hiring anyone.
When a consultant is worth it
- You have 50+ employees with complex safety requirements
- You work in high-hazard industries: petrochemical, oil and gas, heavy industrial
- You're managing a safety management system (SMS) for a large operation
- You need ongoing safety consulting, not just a one-time document
- You have the budget and time, and want the highest-quality output
When a consultant isn't worth it
- You have under 20 employees doing standard construction work
- You need the document in days, not weeks
- Your budget is tight and the ROI doesn't pencil out
- You're just trying to satisfy a GC requirement or pass ISNetworld RAVS
Option 3: Online Safety Program Generator
Online Generator (e.g., CrewCompliance)
Best for: small contractors who need it fast and right✓ Pros: Speed is the standout feature. You answer questions about your company, trade, and state, and the system generates a complete, customized safety program PDF — immediately. Your company name is on every page. The OSHA standards referenced match your trade. The hazards covered match your work.
✓ Pros: The cost is a fraction of a consultant. For a small contractor, $99–$149 for a complete customized program is an extremely efficient use of money compared to either a consultant or the opportunity cost of DIY.
✓ Pros: Designed for real compliance requirements. The best online generators are built specifically for construction contractors and include the elements that GCs, OSHA inspectors, and ISNetworld RAVS reviewers check for.
✗ Cons: Not as deeply customized as a consultant who interviews your team and visits your site. For standard construction work, this usually doesn't matter — the programs cover what they need to cover. For highly specialized or unusual operations, a consultant may still be the better choice.
When an online generator is the sweet spot
- You're a contractor with under 50 employees doing standard construction work
- You need a program fast (GC deadline, ISNetworld RAVS, insurance audit)
- You've been putting this off and need to just get it done
- Your budget is under $500
- You want a program that's actually customized to your trade and state, not a blank template
Side-by-Side Scorecard
How each option scores (5 bars = best):
Which Option Is Right for You?
Here's the honest summary:
- Under 20 employees, standard construction, need it fast: Online generator. It's the clear winner — fast, affordable, customized, and reliable.
- 20–50 employees, complex operations, can wait a few weeks: Either a good consultant or an online generator, depending on your budget and how specialized your work is.
- 50+ employees, high-hazard industry, ongoing safety management needs: Hire a consultant. The investment is justified at this scale.
- Safety background, lots of time, no deadline: DIY. You're one of the few people who can pull it off successfully.
The reality is that the vast majority of contractors who need an OSHA safety program are small operators — under 20 employees, doing standard construction work, facing a deadline from a GC or ISNetworld. For that group, an online generator is the overwhelmingly sensible choice.
If you need a safety program fast, CrewCompliance generates one customized for your trade and state in about 2 minutes. Your company name throughout, OSHA citations included, and everything GCs and RAVS reviewers look for. Use code FIRST100 to get it for $99.
See why online beats DIY and consultants for most small contractors.
15 questions. Instant delivery. Built for construction contractors.
Get My Safety Program — $149Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix approaches — DIY some programs and buy others?
Yes. There's no rule that says you have to do everything the same way. Some contractors write their own Emergency Action Plan (which is simpler) but use an online generator or consultant for more complex programs like Hazard Communication or Fall Protection. The goal is a complete, accurate set of programs — how you get there is up to you.
How do I know if an online generator produces quality output?
Look for generators that: (1) ask about your specific trade and state rather than producing one-size-fits-all documents, (2) include actual OSHA citation numbers, (3) produce documents with your company name throughout — not placeholder text. Read a sample output before buying if possible.
Are online safety programs legally defensible?
A written safety program is legally defensible if it meets OSHA's requirements — accurate, complete, specific to your work, and actually implemented. The source (consultant, DIY, or online generator) isn't what matters legally — the content is. A well-generated online program that covers all required elements is defensible. A poorly written consultant program that's missing key elements is not.
Do I need to update my safety program every year?
OSHA doesn't set a specific annual update requirement, but your program should stay current with your operations and any regulatory changes. Best practice is to review it annually and update whenever your work scope changes significantly, after any serious incident, or when OSHA revises relevant standards. Most online generators let you purchase an updated version when needed.
What's the difference between a safety program and a safety plan?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there's a practical distinction: a "safety program" is your company's ongoing written system for managing safety (used for OSHA compliance, GC submissions, ISNetworld). A "site-specific safety plan" is a shorter document tailored to a specific job site or project, sometimes required by the GC in addition to your company's base program. Online generators typically produce your base safety program; site-specific plans are often addendums you customize per project.
Is a safety program the same as an IIPP?
An IIPP (Injury and Illness Prevention Program) is a specific type of safety program required in some states — most notably California (Cal/OSHA) and others with state OSHA plans. Some states call it an IIPP; federal OSHA calls it a written safety and health program. The concept is similar: a documented system for identifying hazards and keeping workers safe. If you're in a state with an IIPP requirement, your safety program should specifically address that state's IIPP elements.