A safety and health program provides systematic policies, procedures, and practices that are adequate to recognize and protect employees from occupational safety and health hazards. An effective safety and health program includes provisions for the systematic identification, evaluation, and prevention or control of general workplace hazards, specific job hazards, and potential hazards that may arise from foreseeable conditions. To be effective, the program will also look beyond specific Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and seek to address hazards and prevent injuries and illnesses whether or not compliance is at issue.

The term, “safety and health program” is synonymous with other terms, such as, but not limited to, “safety and health management systems,” “injury and illness prevention program” (or I2P2), and “accident prevention program.” Whatever the name, the common goal of these approaches is to help employers reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities through a systematic process that proactively addresses workplace safety and health hazards.