Create a Safe and Healthy Work Environment

The goal of an effective safety and health program is to reduce work related injuries and illnesses. If that goal is achieved, employers most often see a boost in employee morale, improved productivity and profitability, and an overall reduction in workers compensation costs. It’s win-win for everyone – management and workers.

The creation of a safe and healthy work environment begins with a strong commitment from the very top of an organization. It is management who provides the motivating force and resources for organizing and controlling all safety related activities.

Management should:
• State clearly a worksite safety and health policy
• Establish goals and objectives for the program
• Show top management involvement in implementing the program
• Assign and communicate responsibilities for all aspects of the program
• Provide the authority and resources to those responsible
• Hold those involved responsible
• Review the program at least annually and revise as needed

Equally important as management’s commitment is employee involvement in the safety and health program. Through their involvement employees develop and express their own commitment to the safety and health program.

Employees should:
• Participate in all activities needed (inspections, hazard analysis teams, developing and revising safe work rules, training co-workers, assisting in accident investigation) to develop and implement a safe and healthy work place
• Know the hazards in the workplace
• Learn preventive and/or control steps to eliminate or minimize exposure to hazards
• Follow all safety rules, policies and regulations as communicated through written documents, signs and/or formal training sessions

The Virtual Safety Manager (VSM) is designed to reflect management’s commitment to a safe and healthy work place and provide a means for employees to be routinely involved in the safety program. Utilizing VSM leads directly to a systematic, organized approach to safety and indirectly to the creation of a company wide mind set and culture for “worker safety”. A win-win for everyone.