Elements of An Effective Safety and Health Program

Elements of an Effective
Safety and Health Program

1989 Voluntary Safety and Health
Program Management Guidelines
1
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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 s&h protection 6
Employee Involvement (cont’d)
Recommended Actions:
 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
7
 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
8
 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
9
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
10
Worksite Analysis (cont’d)
 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
11
 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
12
 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
13
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
14
Hazard Prevention and Control
(cont’d)
 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 15
Hazard Prevention and Control
(cont’d)
 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
16
Forklift
Safety and Health Training

Safety
 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 17
(cont’d)
 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
18
(cont’d)
 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 19
(cont’d)
 Ensure that managers understand their
safety and health responsibilities, as
described under the Management
Commitment and Employee
Involvement element of the guidelines
AA Co
.
Safety
&
Health
Policy 20

Elements of An Effective Safety and Health Program

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Elements of an Effective

Safety and Health Program

– Conduct comprehensive baseline and

Safety and Health Training

 Addresses the safety and health

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