OSHA UPDATE: Safety and Health Program Guidelines

2017 Safety and Health Program Guidelines

At the beginning of each year, all business should take time to review their regulatory obligations and practices. This year, OSHA released updated guidelines for Safety and Health Programs concerning medium-sized businesses. The purpose of a Safety and Health Program is to prevent foreseeable workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities while creating a sustainable working environment that promotes wellness and protects the employer’s bottom line.

If you have an outdated Safety and Health Program, it may be based on reactive circumstances where guidelines are established after an incident occurs. OSHA’s new program requires a well-rounded Health and Safety Program that identifies all hazards present in the workplace before they cause an incident. According to OSHA, there are 6 ways a Health and Safety Program can benefit a business:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnessess
• Improve compliance with laws and regulations
• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers' compensation premiums
• Engage workers
• Enhance social responsibility goals
• Increase productivity and align overall business operations

If you don’t have a Safety and Health program in place, OSHA has provided a short guide:
10 Easy Things to get your Program Started.

Starting an entirely new program (or even re-evaluating one that’s already implemented) can be daunting for many employers. However, a Health and Safety Program does not happen overnight – It is a long, thoughtful process that requires teamwork. There is no perfect roadmap for each business. OSHA’s website offers step-by-step instructions for building a Health and Safety Program with helpful action items.

CP Lab Safety offers valuable training DVDs for training and retraining employees in various industrial positions: Safety Training DVDs and Manuals.

Following the new guidelines, creating a Health and Safety Program for your workplace has never been easier. It could save a life.

Source: http://www.OSHA.gov