policies and priorities. Ultimately, the system’s effectiveness in practice is what is

important.

Major elements of an effective occupational

safety and health management system

include: 

Management Commitment and Employee

Involvement, which calls for: 

• A clearly-stated worksite policy on safe and

healthful work and working conditions so

that all personnel at the site or working for

the site understand the priority of safety

and health protection.

• A clear goal for the safety and health management system and objectives for meeting that goal so that all members of the

organization understand the results desired

and the measures needed to achieve them.

• Top management involvement in implementing the system to demonstrate management’s commitment.

• Employee involvement in the structure and

operation of the system and in decisions

that affect their safety and health.

• Assignment of responsibilities for all

aspects of the management system, so that

managers, supervisors, and employees in

all parts of the organization know what

they need to do.

• Provision of adequate authority and

resources so that everyone can meet their

assigned responsibilities.

• Holding everyone at the site–managers,

supervisors and employees–accountable

for meeting their responsibilities.

Compliance with the law and OSHA standards is an important objective. An effective

safety and health management system, however, is tailored to a particular site’s individual

needs. It looks beyond specific legal requirements to identify and analyze existing hazards. It seeks to prevent injuries and illnesses, even when compliance is not at issue.

The guideline’s recommendations are appropriate for general industry, shipyards, marine

terminals and longshoring activities, regardless of the size, nature or complexity of operations. OSHA’s construction standards contain separate requirements for safety and

health management systems in the construction industry. OSHA also has guidelines for

shipyards in the Shipyard Industry Digest.

The guidelines – a combination of successfully applied safety and health management

practices – are supported by safety and

health professionals and consultants representing corporations, professional associations and labor unions. They have stood the

test of time; they work!

The Guidelines

The guidelines call for the systematic identification, evaluation and prevention or control

of general workplace hazards and the hazards of specific jobs and tasks.

Safety and health systems may be written 

or oral. As the size of a worksite or the complexity of a hazardous operation increases,

the need for written guidance increases in

order to ensure consistent and fair application of rules and clear communication of 

FactSheet

Voluntary Safety and Health Program

Management Guidelines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued voluntary safety

and health program management guidelines in 1989 to encourage employers to do

more to protect their employees. 
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; the teletypewriter (TTY) number is (877) 889-5627.

• Annual reviews of the system’s operations

to evaluate success in meeting the goals

and objectives, so that deficiencies can be

identified and the program and/or the

objectives can be revised as needed.

Worksite Analysis, including:

• Identification of all hazards by initially conducting comprehensive worksite surveys

for safety and health, and then periodic

updates/surveys.

• Analyses of planned and new facilities,

processes, materials and equipment.

• Analysis of hazards associated with jobs,

processes and/or phases of work.

• Regular site safety and health inspections

to identify new or previously missed hazards and failures in hazard controls.

• A reliable system to encourage employees,

without fear of reprisal, to notify management personnel about conditions that

appear hazardous and to receive timely

and appropriate responses.

• Investigation of accidents and “near miss”

incidents to determine their causes and to

create prevention strategies.

• Analysis, if possible, of injury and illness

trends over extended periods to identify

patterns and prevent problems.

Hazard Prevention and Control, calling for:

• Elimination or control of all hazards in a

timely manner. OSHA encourages adoption of the following measures: engineering controls, the most reliable and effective;

administrative controls that limit exposure

to hazards by adjusting the work schedule;

work practice controls; and personal protective equipment.

• Systems adapted to meet each workplace’s

particular characteristics.

• Planning and preparing for emergencies

and conducting emergency training and

drills.

• A medical program that includes first aid

and emergency medical care.

Safety and Health Training, which will:

• Ensure that all employees, including contract workers, understand the hazards to

which they may be exposed and how to

prevent harm to themselves and others.

• Ensure that supervisors and managers

understand their responsibilities and the

reasons for them so that they can carry out

their roles effectively.

• Ensure periodic refresher training for all

employees.

• Establish a medical program for first aid

and emergency medical care.

For more information, visit the Safety and

Health Management Systems eTool at

www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/safetyhealth/index.html

or the Safety and Health Programs page on

OSHA’s website at 

www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/safetyhealth/index.html.

DEP 7/2005

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information: