Building a Workplace Safety Program from Scratch

A strong workplace safety program protects employees, reduces costs associated with injuries and illnesses, and helps employers comply with OSHA requirements. OSHA recommends that all employers establish a safety and health program based on a framework of core elements. Many states require written safety programs for certain industries.

Core Elements of a Safety Program

OSHA identifies several core elements that every effective safety program should include:

• Management leadership: Visible commitment from top management including clear safety goals, adequate resources, and leading by example
• Worker participation: Active involvement of employees in identifying hazards, developing solutions, and improving safety practices
• Hazard identification and assessment: Systematic processes to identify and evaluate workplace hazards
• Hazard prevention and control: Methods to eliminate or control identified hazards
• Education and training: Training for all employees on hazards they may encounter and how to protect themselves
• Program evaluation and improvement: Regular review of the program to identify what is working and what needs improvement

Conducting a Hazard Assessment

Start by identifying the hazards present in your workplace:

• Walk through the entire workplace and observe operations, equipment, and conditions
• Review injury and illness records (OSHA 300 logs), workers compensation claims, and near-miss reports
• Talk to employees about hazards they have observed or concerns they have
• Review Safety Data Sheets for chemicals used in the workplace
• Identify tasks that involve repetitive motion, heavy lifting, or awkward postures
• Evaluate equipment maintenance records and safety inspection reports

Prioritize hazards based on severity and likelihood, and address the most serious hazards first.

Developing Safety Policies and Procedures

Create written procedures for the hazards identified in your assessment:

• Standard operating procedures for high-risk tasks
• Lockout/tagout procedures for equipment maintenance
• Personal protective equipment requirements by task
• Chemical handling and storage procedures
• Emergency response procedures
• Incident reporting and investigation procedures

Make sure procedures are written in clear, accessible language and available where employees can easily reference them.

Training Requirements

OSHA requires training for many specific hazards and standards. Common training requirements include:

• Hazard communication (GHS/SDS training) under 29 CFR 1910.1200
• Fire extinguisher use if employees are expected to fight fires
• Personal protective equipment
• Lockout/tagout for authorized and affected employees
• Bloodborne pathogens for employees with occupational exposure
• Powered industrial trucks (forklift) for operators

Training must be conducted in a language and vocabulary workers can understand. Document all training including dates, topics, trainer, and attendees.

Incident Investigation and Reporting

When a workplace injury or near-miss occurs:

• Provide immediate medical attention
• Secure the scene to preserve evidence
• Investigate promptly while details are fresh
• Identify root causes, not just immediate causes
• Develop corrective actions to prevent recurrence
• Report fatalities to OSHA within 8 hours and hospitalizations, amputations, or losses of an eye within 24 hours

A non-punitive reporting culture encourages employees to report hazards and near-misses before injuries occur.