The Value of a Safety and Health Program
There were 5,190 work-related fatalities in 2021. In addition to these fatalities, there were 2.6 Million total recordable cases in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even one serious workplace injury or illness can devastate an organization, especially a small business.
The impacts include:
costs associated with higher workers’ compensation premiums
medical expenses
legal fees
replacement worker training
lost productivity
equipment repairs
negative reputation, and
lower worker morale
This does not even include the overwhelming personal impacts it could have.
Implementation
Implementing a safety and health program will help a business in many ways.
An effective safety and health program can:
Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
Improve compliance with laws and regulations
Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums
Engage workers
Enhance social responsibility goals
Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations
Small employers should place a high value on the well-being of their workers. Many small businesses employ family members and personal acquaintances. The size of the workplace will promote the closeness and concern for one another that small businesses value.
Employers that make job safety and health an integral 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.
The main goal of a safety and health program is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths and the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers. Unfortunately, traditional approaches are often reactive; problems are addressed only after a worker is injured or becomes sick, a new standard or regulation is published, or a 3rd party inspection finds a problem.
Recommended Practices
Every workplace should have a proactive safety and health program. 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, and is built around seven core elements:
Management leadership
Worker participation
Hazard identification and assessment
Hazard prevention and control
Education and training
Program evaluation and improvement
Communication and coordination for host employers, contractors, and staffing agencies
You can begin with a basic program, set simple goals, and grow from there. If you focus on achieving goals, monitoring performance, and evaluating outcomes, your workplace can progress to higher safety and health achievement levels.
By developing and implementing a safety and health program, you express and document your good faith and commitment to protecting your workers’ health and safety. Doing so does not usually require additional workers or high costs. You can integrate safety and health into your other business functions with modest effort.
The key to a successful safety and health program is to see it as a part of your day-to-day business operation. As you incorporate it into your business culture, safety, and health awareness will become second nature to you and your workers, leading to a safe and sound business.
