Put It in Writing A Written Safety and Health Program

The need for written safety and health programs has been an area of controversy for some time. Many in the industry feel that written safety and health programs are just more paperwork, a deterrent to productivity, and nothing more than another bureaucratic way of mandating safety and health on the job. However, over a period of years, data and information have been mounting in support of the need to develop and implement written safety and health programs for all workplaces. 

This perceived need for written programs must be tempered with a view to their practical development and implementation. A very small employer who employs one to four employees and no supervisors in all likelihood needs only a very basic written plan, along with any other written programs that are required as part of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation. However, as the size of the company and the number of employees increase, the employer becomes more removed from the hands-on aspects of what now may be multiple facilities or worksites. 

Now companies must find a way to convey support for safety to all those who work with and for the company. As with all other aspects of business, the employer must plan, set the policies, apply management principles, and assure adherence to the company s goals to facilitate efficient and effective completion of projects. Again, job safety and health should be managed the same as any other part of the company s business. 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT A PRACTICAL APPROACH 

In other words, to effectively manage safety and health, a company must pay attention to some critical factors. These factors are the essence in managing safety and health on worksites. The questions that need to be answered regarding managing safety and health are 

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