R&R Insurance Blog

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), June is National Safety Month and the focus is on reducing the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes and communities. Throughout the month, the NSC will be providing weekly materials centered around the following topics:

How is your organization taking part in National Safety Month? Contact safety@rrins.com for additional resources.

According to OSHA, establishing a safety and health program in your workplace is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity and turnover.

While beneficial, implementing these programs can be a daunting task. OSHA recommends the following steps to simplify the process and create structure for your program.

Getting Started:

1. Set safety and health as a top priority
2. Lead by example
3. Implement a reporting system
4. Provide training
5. Conduct inspections
6. Collect hazard control ideas
7. Implement hazard controls
8. Address emergencies
9. Seek input on workplace changes
10. Make improvements

Core Elements Needed:

1. Management leadership
   • Creates a culture of safety, facilitates trust, and reinforces the core elements
2. Worker Participation
   • Results in improved design, implementation and evaluation
3. Hazard Identification and assessment
   • Identifies and documents all known suspected hazards
4. Hazard Prevention and control
   • Prevents injuries using hierarchy of controls: engineering, work practices, administrative, PPE
5. Education and Training
   • Ensures all workers understand safe work practices, are familiar with hazards and know how to participate.
6. Program Evaluation and Improvement
   • Assesses program effectiveness and modifications as needed.
7. Multiemployer worksites: Communication and coordination for host employers, contractors and staffing agencies.
   • Ensures communication and coordination to protect all workers onsite.

Preventing workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, families and the employers is incredibly valuable. Businesses with Safety and Health programs typically see an improvement in product, process and service quality, improved workplace morale and employee recruiting and retention, and a more favorable image and reputation among the community.

For more information on the development or improvement of your Safety and Health program, contact a Knowledge Broker at R&R Insurance.

Information provided by www.osha.gov/shpguidelines.