OSHA Insights – Injury and Illness Prevention Programs

Posted on by HMG Creative

There is inherent risk of illness and injuries in some industries. The challenge for management is to reduce the threat of these dangers for employees. OSHA provides a number of easy to follow guidelines to help businesses reduce the occurrences of injuries and illnesses in their facilities. These issues can cause missed work and lost revenue and need to be addressed before they happen.

4 Suggestions from OSHA for Your Prevention Programs

  • Voluntary protection programs. VPP (Voluntary Protection Programs) offers an opportunity for management, laborers, and OSHA to work together to proactively prevent accidental deaths, injuries, and illnesses in the workplace. This is accomplished with a system focused on hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, and training. It requires commitment from both management and workers.
  • Safety and Health Recognition Achievement Program. Also known as SHARP, this onsite program offers recognition for small companies and employers who have exemplary safety and health management programs. By participating in this safety program your company will have the benefit of an excellent reputation within your community.
  • OSHA Challenge Program. This program helps employers design a proactive approach to their safety and health initiatives by providing access to online tools which will guide them through the steps needed to meet the VPP requirements. Employers will be able to make small, incremental improvements which will then be recognized by OSHA.
  • Safety Pays Program. OSHA’s “$afety Pays” program provides an opportunity for companies to assess how injuries and illnesses affect their profitability. The calculator uses the profit margin, average cost of injury or illness, and a cost multiplier to determine the approximate amount of sales it would take to recover. This tool is used to raise awareness of occupational hazards and how they affect employees and employers.

 

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