What is the Value of a Good Safety and Health Program?

How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations

What is a Workplace Emergency?

A good, effectively managed worker safety and health program can be a big factor in reducing work-related injuries and illnesses and their related costs. OSHA offers voluntary guidelines to help employers and employees in workplaces it covers develop effective safety and health programs. Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines (Federal Register 54(18): 3908-3916, January 26, 1989) identifies four general elements critical to a successful safety and health management program. These are:

• Management leadership and employee involvement;
• An analysis of worksite hazards;
• Use of hazard prevention and control initiatives; and
• Safety and health training.

These guidelines are posted on the OSHA website at www.osha-slc.gov/FedReg_osha_data/FED19890126.html. See also OSHA's Safety and Health Management Systems eCAT at www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/safetyhealthecat/index.html.