• One of the most effective ways to reduce workplace hazards and injuries is through a comprehensive, proactive safety and health management program.
• The benefits of implementing safety and health management programs include protecting workers, saving money, and making all your hazard-specific programs more effective.
• OSHA offers several resources related to safety and health programs.

Safety (and health) should be baked into the operation as a core value. The way to safety and health effectiveness is not that different than how you go about establishing a successful business.

One of the most effective ways to reduce workplace hazards and injuries is through a comprehensive, proactive safety and health management program, also called a safety and health management system. This program is a proactive, collaborative process to find and fix workplace hazards before employees are injured or become ill.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not require a safety and health program but highly recommends one. Some state-plan states, however, do require some sort of safety and health program, but it may be called by a different name.

The benefits of implementing a safety and health management program include protecting workers, saving money, and making all your hazard-specific programs more effective. In healthcare facilities, prioritizing safety in the environment of care, for example, reaps important additional benefits through improved quality of patient care. OSHA says leading organizations have effectively implemented these programs.

Elements of the program

The safety and health program is a proven, flexible framework for finding and fixing hazards before they cause injuries and illnesses. To be effective, the program should have at least six elements:

• Management commitment and leadership — Managers demonstrate their commitment to improved safety and health, communicate this commitment, and document safety and health performance. They make safety and health a core value, establish goals and objectives, provide adequate resources, and set a good example.
• Worker involvement — Workers, with their front-line knowledge, ideally participate in all program aspects. They’re encouraged to communicate openly with management and report safety and health concerns.
• Hazard identification and assessment — Processes and procedures are in place to continually identify work hazards and evaluate risks. This element includes an initial assessment of hazards and controls and regular reassessments.
• Hazard prevention and control — Processes, procedures, and programs are implemented to eliminate or control workplace hazards. They’re also designed to achieve safety and health goals and objectives. Progress in implementing controls is tracked.
• Information and training — All workers receive information and training on hazard recognition/control and their program responsibilities.
• Program evaluation and improvement — Processes are established to monitor the program’s performance, verify its implementation, identify deficiencies and opportunities for improvement, and take actions to improve the overall program.

These elements are often the same ones that make a good quality or customer service program. Basically, any business function needs these elements to be effective. That means you can integrate safety into the functions of the business.

Your healthcare facility may have a jump on patient safety and health. Now, you can adapt it to address all worker safety issues. Safety is safety!

OSHA officials have explained that employers (who do it themselves) don’t just implement a safety and health program overnight. They often do it in stages. Ten ways to get your program started include:

1. Set safety and health as a core value,
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. Start a housekeeping program,
9. Address emergencies, and
10. Seek input on workplace changes.

OSHA offers several resources related to safety and health programs:

• Hospitals eTool: Safety and Health Management Systems and Programs webpage.
• Safety and Health Management Systems: A Road Map for Hospitals, which explores the six program elements and offers real-world examples from the industry.
• Worker Safety in Hospitals: Caring for Our Caregivers webpage.
• Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs webpage.
• Safe+Sound Campaign webpage.
• Business Case for Safety and Health webpage.
• $afety Pays Program online tool.
• Safety and Health Programs Publications webpage.
• Job Safety and Health Publications webpage.
• Safety and Health Management Program Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines (1/26/1989).
• OSHA Challenge webpage.
• Voluntary Protection Programs webpage.

Given the importance of safety and compliance and the challenges they pose to healthcare, it’s wise to have a third party help you put together your safety and health program. That way, it’s tailored to your patient AND worker safety and health needs.