According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of worker deaths and reported injuries in the U.S. has decreased by more than 60% in the past four decades since the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act was passed. However, every year, more than 5,000 workers are killed on the job (a rate of 14 per day), and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness.

Serious job-related injuries or illnesses not only hurt workers and their families but can also hurt business in many ways. Implementing a health & safety program, however, can improve small- and medium-sized businesses’ safety and health performance, save money, and improve competitiveness.

Health & safety programs help businesses:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses;
• Improve compliance with laws and regulations;
• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums;
• Engage workers;
• Enhance social responsibility goals; and
• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations.

Top management commit to implementing a program and using it to drive continuous improvement in safety and health.

When management leadership is sincere and supported by actions, workers know that safety and health are important to business success. The steps they take to improve safety and health will be valued by the business.

Top management can demonstrate commitment in many ways, including:

• Developing and communicating a safety and health policy statement.
• Providing the necessary resources to implement and operate the program.
• Factoring safety and health into operational planning and decisions.
• Recognizing or rewarding safety and health contributions and achievements.
• Leading by example, by practicing safe behaviors and making safety part of daily conversations.

Effective health and safety programs tap into workers’ collective experience, knowledge and insight to find solutions to workplace safety and health challenges.

Workers often know the most about potential hazards associated with their jobs. When they are involved in finding solutions, they feel invested in the program. To maximize participation, however, workers must feel free to speak without fear of retaliation or discrimination (e.g., for reporting an injury or hazardous conditions).

• Developing the initial program design.
• Reporting incidents (including near misses) so they can be investigated.
• Analyzing hazards associated with routine and non-routine jobs, tasks, and processes.
• Defining and documenting safe work practices.
• Conducting site inspections and incident investigations.
• Training current coworkers and new hires.
• Evaluating program performance and identifying ways to improve it.

At the core of every effective health and safety program is a systematic process for identifying and controlling (i.e., finding and fixing) workplace hazards.

Traditional approaches to finding and fixing workplace hazards are often reactive. People take action only after a worker is injured or becomes sick, a new standard or regulation is published, or an outside inspection finds a problem that must be fixed. Finding and fixing hazards using a proactive approach, before they cause injury or illness, is far more effective.

Workplaces are always evolving as new technologies, processes, materials and workers are introduced. By adopting a systematic approach, businesses can stay on top of emerging hazards that could lead to injury or illness.

• Involving workers, who often have the best understanding of the conditions that create hazards and insights into controlling them.
• Reviewing all available information about hazards that might be present.
• Conducting inspections to identify new or emerging hazards.
• Investigating incidents to identify root causes and potential solutions.
• Evaluating options using the “hierarchy of controls.”
• Finding ways to protect workers during emergencies and non-routine activities.
• Checking that existing controls are intact and remain effective.