SAVE THE DATE SAFETY WORKS
Safety cultures pay off for everyone The value of a safety and health program
from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health)
Every year, more than 5,000 workers are killed on the job (average of 14 deaths per day), and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness. Even one serious workplace injury or illness can have a devastating impact on a small business, including costs associated with higher workers’ compensation premiums, medical expenses, legal fees, replacement worker training, lost productivity, equipment repairs, and lower worker morale – to say nothing of the overwhelming personal impacts.
Implementing a safety and health program helps businesses:
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Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
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Engage workers
Improve compliance with laws and regulations Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums Enhance social responsibility goals Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations
Small employers like you place a high value on the well-being of your workers. Like many small businesses, you may employ family members and personal acquaintances. And, if you don’t know your workers before they are hired, the size of your workplace will promote the closeness and concern for one another that small businesses value. OSHA and NIOSH provide helpful resources and want to work with you to promote a safe and healthful workplace. Employers who make job safety and health a real part of their everyday operations will benefit in the long run. Investing in a safety and health program now will help you avoid possible losses in the future. A safe business is a sound business.
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The main goal of a safety and health program is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers. Traditional approaches are often reactive; that is, problems are addressed only after a worker is injured or becomes sick, a new standard or regulation is published, or an outside inspection finds a problem. OSHA’s Safe + Sound campaign encourages every workplace to have a safety and health program. Through this campaign, OSHA works with NIOSH and other organizations to provide resources to help employers develop safety and health programs and to recognize the successes of these programs.
Implementing a safety and health program
OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs use a proactive approach to managing workplace safety and health, recognizing that finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury or illness is a far more effective approach. The Recommended Practices present a step-by-step approach to implementing a successful safety and health program, built around seven core elements:
