OSHA - Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program

It has been found that effective management of worker safety and health programs

  • Reduces the extent and severity of work related injuries and illnesses
  • Improves employee morale and productivity
  • Reduces workers’ compensation costs

Common Characteristics of Exemplary Workplaces

Use of organized and systematic methods to

  • Assign responsibility to managers, supervisors, and employees 
  • Inspect regularly for and control hazards 
  • Orient and train all employees to eliminate or avoid hazards

The Guidelines – General

An effective program

  • Includes provisions for systematic identification, evaluation and prevention or control of hazards
  • Goes beyond specific requirements of the law to address all hazards
  • Written program
  • "In writing" less important than its effectiveness
  • As size and complexity of worksite or process increases, so does need for written guidance

Major Elements

An effective occupational safety and health program will include the following four elements

  • Management commitment and employee involvement
  • Worksite analysis
  • Hazard prevention and control
  • Safety and health training

Management Commitment and Employee Involvement

  • Management commitment and employee involvement are complementary 
  • Management commitment provides the motivating force and resources for organizing and controlling activities within an organization
  • Employee involvement provides the means through which workers develop and express their own commitment to safety & health protection
  • State clearly a worksite safety and health policy
  • Establish and communicate a clear goal and objective for the safety and health 
    program 
  • Provide visible top management involvement in implementing the program

Recommended Actions:

  • Encourage employee involvement in the program and in decisions that affect their 
    safety and health (e.g., inspection or hazard analysis teams; developing or revising safe 
    work rules; training new hires or co-workers; assisting in accident investigations)
  • Assign and communicate responsibility for all aspects of the program
  • Provide adequate authority and resources to responsible parties
  • Hold managers, supervisors, and employees accountable for meeting their 
    responsibilities
  • Review program operations at least annually, to evaluate, identify deficiencies, and revise, as needed 

Worksite Analysis

  • Worksite analysis involves a variety of worksite examinations, to identify not only 
    existing hazards, but also conditions and operations where changes might occur to create 
    hazards
  • Effective management actively analyzes the work and the worksite to anticipate and 
    prevent harmful occurrences

Recommended Actions:

  • So that all hazards are identified
  • Conduct comprehensive baseline and periodic surveys for safety and health 
  • Analyze planned and new facilities, processes, materials, and equipment
  • Perform routine job hazard analyses
  • Provide for regular site safety and health inspections
  • Provide a reliable system for employees, without fear of reprisal, to notify management about apparent hazardous conditions and to receive timely and appropriate responses
  • Provide for investigation of accidents and “near miss” incidents, so that their causes and means for prevention are identified 
  • Analyze injury and illness trends over time, so that patterns with common causes can be identified and prevented 

Hazard Prevention and Control:

  • Triggered by a determination that a hazard or potential hazard exists
  • Where feasible, prevent hazards by effective design of job or job site 
  • Where elimination is not feasible, control hazards to prevent unsafe and unhealthful exposure
  • Elimination or control must be accomplished in a timely manner

Recommended Actions:

  • Establish procedures for timely correction or control of hazards, including
  • Engineering techniques, where feasible and appropriate
  • Procedures for safe work which are understood and followed as a result of training, positive reinforcement, correction of unsafe performance, and enforcement
  • Provision of personal protective equipment
  • Administrative controls
  • Provide for facility and equipment maintenance
  • Plan and prepare for emergencies
  • Training and drills, as needed
  • Establish a medical program 
  • First aid on site 
  • Physician and emergency care nearby 

Safety and Health Training:

  • Addresses the safety and health responsibilities of all personnel, whether salaried 
    or hourly
  • Most effective when incorporated into other training about performance requirements 
    and job practices
  • Complexity depends on size and complexity of worksite and nature of hazards
  • Ensure that all employees understand the hazards to which they may be exposed and how to prevent harm to themselves and others from exposure to these hazards
  • Ensure that supervisors carry out their safety and health responsibilities, 
    including

    – Analyzing the work under their supervision to identify unrecognized potential hazards

    – Maintaining physical protections in work areas

    – Reinforcing employee training through continual performance feedback and, if needed, enforcement of safe work practices

  • Ensure that managers understand their safety and health responsibilities, as described under the Management Commitment and Employee Involvement element of the guidelines

Reprinted with permission. © CCH

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