Every year about 6,000 employees in America suffer fatal workplace injuries and 50,000 die due to illnesses resulting from exposure to workplace hazards, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Injuries on the job cost companies over $125 billion annually. The Occupational Safety and Health Act provides regulations and standards to protect American workers, except for those who are self-employed and state or federal employees. Make sure your company meets these standards to protect employees and save money.
Step 1
Develop or buy a workplace safety manual geared toward your type of business or industry. Make sure it includes the key elements of a workplace safety and health program, as outlined by OSHA: management commitment and employee involvement; hazard prevention and control, including an emergency action plan; and training for employees, supervisors and managers.
Step 2
Take advantage of the many free resources OSHA provides. For instance, find information on how to get your business to quickly comply with OSHA requirements along with training materials for your employees. Use OSHA's "Hazard Awareness Advisor" tool to identify and correct safety issues in your company, or their "Safety Pays" interactive program to assess the cost of OSHA compliance for your business.
Step 3
Implement the safety standards and practices as outlined in your workplace safety manual. For example, make sure all your employees have the necessary safety tools and equipment to do their job and that you provide the training required by OSHA. Contact your local OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist for help implementing your workplace safety measures, if necessary.
Step 4
Hold regular safety and health meetings with managers, supervisors and employees, advises OSHA.
Step 5
Implement a system for employees to report hazards or safety issues. Keep a record of workplace hazards and injuries or illnesses, recommends OSHA. Take action to prevent them in the future.
Tips and Warnings
- Practice prevention such as making sure all tools and equipment are properly maintained, holding fire drills and immediately cleaning up spills or other tripping or falling hazards. To ensure that you are meeting your workplace health and safety obligations as an employer, OSHA compliance officers can inspect your company without any notice or with as little as 24 hours warning. Know your rights and how the process works. Review OSHA's Regulation Standards on Inspections, Citations, and Proposed Penalties.
- When you neglect to implement proper workplace health and safety measures, your company may face fines after an OSHA inspection. Depending on the type of violation---which ranges from the Other Than Serious Violation to the more costly Willful or Repeated Violations---you can end up paying a few hundred dollars or over $500,000. Plus, inadequate health and safety measures puts your workers at unnecessary risk, lowers morale and productivity and costs your company.
Things You'll Need
- Workplace safety manual
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