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SAFETY / OSHA - 3/12/08
Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program
Effective Safety and Health Programs
- 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
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