More than 5,000 workers are killed on the job each year in the United States, and more than 3.6 million suffer a serious job-related injury or illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) encourages organizations of any size or industry to participate in Safe+Sound Week 2023, August 7-13, to recognize and improve workplace safety and health.
Employers are invited to raise awareness about their existing health and safety programs and promote their safety successes through toolbox talks and safety meetings during this nationwide event. For companies without a safety and health program or for those who need to energize an existing one, these tips can help employers find and manage hazards, prevent accidents, and improve their bottom line.
1 Make safety and health a core value.
Show employees that management will work with them to find and fix workplace hazards so everyone can go home safely.
2 Lead by example.
Model safe behaviors and talk about safety daily.
3 Create a reporting system.
Provide a way for workers to report safety concerns in secret and without fear of retaliation.
4 Provide training.
Train workers on how to find and control hazards and report incidents.
5 Conduct inspections.
Inspect the workplace with workers to identify concerns. Use a checklist to help.
6 Collect hazard control ideas.
Ask workers for ideas to improve safety. Involve them in the solution and follow up on suggestions.
7 Implement hazard controls.
Make sure workers are involved in selecting, carrying out, and assessing ways to control hazards.
8 Address emergencies.
Find situations, create instructions, and talk about and post procedures on what to do in an emergency.
9 Seek input on workplace changes.
Check with workers before making major changes to identify possible safety or health issues.
10 Make improvements to the program.
Regularly discuss safety and health issues to find ways to improve the program.
For more information on creating or improving company safety and health programs, review OSHA’s Safe+Sound resources or the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)-Workplace Safety’s free publication, Safety Plan Development Tool (English or Spanish). DWC safety instructors and virtual or onsite consultants can also help meet the safety and health training needs of Texas companies by contacting 1-800-252-7031, option 2. For more information on upcoming OSHA construction, general industry, or new safety professional classes, visit the DWC Workplace Safety Events and Training webpage.