COMPLIANCE INFO_2010-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

How does safety and health program management assistance help employers and employees? Working in a safe and healthful environment can stimulate innovation and creativity and result in increased performance and higher productivity. To assist employers and employees in developing effective safety and health programs, OSHA published recommendedSafety and Health Program Management Guidelines( Federal Register 54(18):3904-3916, January 26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines can be applied to all worksites covered by OSHA. The guidelines identify four general elements that are critical to the development of a successful safety and health management system: management leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training. The guidelines recommend specific actions under each of these general elements to achieve an effective safety and health program. The Federal Register notice is available online at www.osha.gov. What are state plans? State plans are OSHA -approved job safety and health programs operated by individual states or territories instead of Federal OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( OSH Act) encourages states to develop and operate their own job safety and health plans and permits state enforcement of OSHA standards if the state has an approved plan. Once OSHA approves a state plan, it funds 50 percent of the program's operating costs. State plans must provide standards and enforcement programs, as well as voluntary compliance activities, that are at least as effective as those of Federal OSHA. There are 26 state plans: 23 cover both private and public (state and local government) employment, and 3 (Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York) cover only the public sector. For more information on state plans, see the listing at the end of this publication, or visit OSHA's website at www.osha.gov. How can consultation assistance help employers? In addition to helping employers identify and correct specific hazards, OSHA's consultation service provides free, onsite assistance in developing and implementing effective workplace safety and health management systems that emphasize the prevention of worker injuries and illnesses. - - Comprehensive consultation assistance provided by OSHA includes a hazard survey of the worksite and an appraisal of all aspects of the employer's existing safety and health management system. In addition, the service offers assistance to employers in developing and implementing an effective safety and health management system. Employers also may receive training and education services, as well as limited assistance away from the worksite. Who can get consultation assistance and what does it cost?