Every effective safety and health plan has four key elements:

1. “The bottom line is that success in controlling a particular hazard is proportional to the amount of attention given to that hazard.”

2. It is safe to assume that most employers consider their employees to be their most important asset. That is why it is so important for employers to protect workers from hazards, or potential hazards, in the workplace. • The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that are causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to employees. To achieve that end, employers should develop a comprehensive safety and health plan.

3. Developing and maintaining an organizational culture of health and safety requires management commitment at all levels. Regardless of the type of industry—from manufacturing and construction to knowledge management and retail—safety is managed by focusing on training and accident prevention.

4. In today’s litigatious society, organizations cannot afford to be ignorant regarding occupational safety. • Further, if companies want to maintain a positive employer brand and reputation, safety is key

5. Employers receive big dividends from an effective safety and health plan. Studies have shown that a good plan: • Reduces the extent and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses. • Improves employee morale and productivity. • Lowers workers’ compensation costs. • Helps with retention and recruiting, due to the organization’s good reputation for safety.

6. Every effective safety and health plan has four key elements: • management commitment and employee involvement; • worksite analysis (risk assessment); • hazard prevention and control; and • training and education.

7. There are seven steps that contribute to the successful involvement of both managers and employees in developing a safety and health plan: • . Go to the top officer in the organization and present the plan; request the support of each member of management as well. Ask that safety and health be made a core value of the company and that management’s actions reflect that commitment. Without strong support from the head of the organization, the plan cannot succeed.

8. 2. Develop a safety and health policy and be sure to communicate that policy to all employees. It should be posted on the bulletin board of each company location and included in the employee handbook. 3. Develop short-term and long-term goals and communicate them to all employees. Develop a plan to help achieve the goals and provide feedback on the progress made.

9. 4. Create a safety and health manual and be sure it defines responsibilities at all levels. 5. Be sure that all levels of management have a visible role in the implementation of the plan. If management is not in evidence, employees will not take management’s commitment to safety and health seriously. Managers can reinforce the plan by complying with its provisions themselves. If safety glasses are required in a certain area, for example, be sure managers wear safety glasses when they are in that area.

10. 6. Ensure employee participation—a critical factor. Levels of involvement for workers range from contributing advice to serving on a safety committee. If there is to be an incentive plan based on safety achievements, be sure that the employees, not just managers, take part. Share the goals and objectives with employees and ask for their support and commitment. 7. Review the plan regularly. It should be reassessed at least once a year to evaluate its success in meeting the established goals and objectives. When a new standard comes out or an existing standard is revised, update the written plan.

11. Worksite Analysis • After managers and employees are committed to the safety and health plan, specific job issues should be addressed. Walk through the facility and conduct a thorough needs analysis. Once the analysis is complete, develop a job safety analysis for each position. A job safety analysis looks at each function of a job, identifies any potential hazards, and lists what should be done to protect employees from those hazards. • After the safety and health plan has been implemented, conduct frequent and regular inspections of the workplace. This will reveal issues that may have been omitted from the original plan, or facets of the plan that require modification. If problems are uncovered, adjust the plan to correct them.

12. Hazard Prevention & Control • The first step in preventing or eliminating hazards should be the use of engineering controls. Engineering controls can include lowering work benches, installing safety switches, adding lifting devices, or changing the chemicals used in a particular process. In addition, layouts can often be redesigned to eliminate hazards. • Administrative controls are another way to reduce hazards. One example is reducing the length of time employees are exposed to particular hazards. If an employee has worked for two or three hours in a noisy area, allow him (or her) to work in another section of the facility for a while. When the total time of exposure is calculated, the employee should be below the threshold limit. In such cases, be sure to document any administrative actions taken to reduce exposure. • The last method used to protect employees is the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE). PPEs must be provided by the employer at no cost to the employee

13. Training and Education • Employees should be trained person in a specific areas of safety, such as fall protection, scaffolding and excavations. • Regular training should be conducted with all employees. Some safety standards require that all employees who are exposed to a hazard be trained in how to recognize the hazard and protect themselves. • The final step in education is to have regularly scheduled safety meetings. A weekly safety talk of five to 10 minutes is an ideal way to continue the educational process. Use the weekly talk to provide feedback on safety goals, talk about a “close call” incident, or educate employees about a wide array of safety and health issues.

14. Health & Safety Committee Operating Procedures • Purpose: • In accordance with the company’s commitment to safety, each company element will be responsible for establishing a Health and Safety Committee for the following purposes: • 1. To maintain and enhance employee interest in health and safety issues. • 2. To ensure that managers, supervisors and employees are aware through training activities that they are responsible for the prevention of workplace accidents. • 3. To help make health and safety activities an integral part of the organization's operating procedures, culture and programs. • 4. To provide an opportunity for discussion of health and safety problems and possible solutions. • 5. To inform and educate employees and supervisors about health and safety issues and research findings, etc. • 6. To help reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses. • 7. To help ensure compliance with federal and state health and safety standards.

15. Health & Safety Committee Operating Procedures • Functions: • To accomplish these objectives, the Health and Safety Committee will: • 1. Develop a written mission statement in accordance with corporate requirements. • 2. Define duties and responsibilities of committee members. • 3. Identify and prioritize goals and establish action plans to achieve each goal. • 4. Include representation from different levels and areas of the company element. • 5. Meet at least monthly. • 6. Record and disseminate minutes of meetings, documenting attendance, problems, and issues, as well as corrective action proposed and actions taken to address each issue. • 7. Make attendance mandatory with the penalty of removal for repeated absences. • 8. Develop methods to increase and maintain safety awareness. • 9. Organize special subcommittees to address specific issues, projects or programs.