A Safe Workplace is Sound Business

OSHA has recently updated its Guidelines for Safety and Health Programs – first released 30 years ago – to reflect changes in the economy, workplaces, and evolving safety and health issues. The new Recommended Practices have been well received by a wide variety of stakeholders and are designed to be used in a wide variety of small and medium-sized business settings. The Recommended Practices present a step-by-step approach to implementing a successful occupational health and safety program built around seven core elements.

The main goal of health and safety procedures is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as minimizing the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers. The recommended practices use a proactive approach to managing workplace safety and health. 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 that must be fixed. The new Recommended Practices recognize that finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury or illness is a far more effective approach.

The idea is to begin with a basic program and simple goals for safety at work and grow from there. If you focus on achieving goals, monitoring performance, and evaluating outcomes, your workplace can progress along the path to higher levels of safety and health achievement.

Employers will find that implementing these recommended practices also brings other benefits. Workplace safety programs help businesses:

Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses

Improve compliance with laws and OSHA regulations

Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums

Engage workers

Enhance their social responsibility goals

Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations

Maximize your workplace safety programs by partnering with an experienced safety consultant. At OECS, our health and regulatory compliance experts help you with safety audits, custom plans, safety training, and much more. See how we can ­­help – call 763-417-9599 to get started!

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