4 Factors Companies Must Include in Developing Occupational Health and Safety Programs

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, ISO 45001:2018 (OH&S) Awareness Training (73-slide PowerPoint presentation). ISO 45001:2018 is the world's first internationally recognized standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). This replaces the old OHSAS 18001:2007, providing a comprehensive framework for organizations to manage OH&S risks, and improve performance through effective policies and [read more]

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Employers spend almost $1 billion a week on workers’ compensation for injuries and illnesses in the workplace, and expenses like these may negatively impact business growth. A culture of safety in the workplace can minimize injuries, as well as costs to the business, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. An organization can spend company funds wisely and purposefully on occupational safety and health by developing programs that go beyond what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires. These are some elements that employers may want to incorporate in the development of their programs.

Physical Health Services

Providing regular medical check-ups to employees will help discover signs of illnesses or diseases caused by health hazards in the workplace. Early detection will make employees’ treatment and rehabilitation easier. Management can also immediately make the necessary adjustments in the work environment to prevent more incidents. If an employer does not work towards redesigning for a safer workplace or fails to give just compensation after such incidents, workers can get the services of a lawyer to help them. A work injury lawyer will represent employees who fall ill or sustain injuries because of dangers at work, as well as give advice on rights and options to take.

Mental Health and Wellness

A McKinsey survey shows that almost 50% of employer respondents say that mental health is a top priority for them. The survey also advises companies to appoint a mental health leader and to widen benefits to include mental health. Businesses that prioritize mental health will most likely have less absenteeism and better productivity, leading to increased revenue. Employers should evaluate their safety and health policies, working hours, management practices, organizational objectives, and level of employee support. If they find these inadequate, they will need to correct them to lower the risks to mental wellness.

Employee Participation

Employers should encourage employees to take an active part in promoting occupational health and safety. This includes getting them involved in the design and operation of programs. Work hazards directly affect workers and their input will be valuable. Programs will be well-rounded, as ideas for them will come from all organizational levels. Most importantly, employees will support programs when they are a part of their inception.

Adopting EHS Software

Environment, health, and safety or EHS software can save operation costs for a business. The software provides visibility to employers, keeps them up-to-date with regulations, automates processes, and reduces paperwork. It’s a real-time health and safety management tool that can simplify audits, inspections, compliance, and reporting. Even small businesses can adopt EHS software because it does not require sophisticated IT skills.

OSHA regulation compliance is the minimum required of employers. The best companies are those that incorporate the elements mentioned above to create safety and health policies and programs. Building effective programs will take the time, dedication, and commitment of employers, management, and employees.

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