Critical Elements of an Effective SHMS

The critical elements of an effective SHMS are: management commitment and employee

involvement; worksite analysis; hazard prevention and control; training for employees,

supervisors and managers. (See the reverse of this fact sheet for a checklist of action items

for every SHMS component.)

OSHA Resources to Assist Employers with SHMS

• Small and medium-sized employers can benefit from OSHA’s “Small Business Handbook”

which contains specific information about SHMS:

www.osha.gov/Publications/smallbusiness/small-business.html

• OSHA’s “Compliance Assistance Quick Start” Web page is another online resource

providing SHMS information:

www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/quickstarts/index.html

• OSHA’s “Hazard Awareness Advisor” is an online tool to assist in identifying and correcting

safety and health workplace hazards: www.osha.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/hazexp.html

• Employers seeking more comprehensive SHMS information, especially those with a safety

and health professional on staff, can work with OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs:

www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html and/or benefit from OSHA’s “SHMS eTool”:

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

Take Advantage of Free OSHA Assistance

Compliance Assistance Specialists are available in every OSHA Area Office to help you.

Find the one in your local area: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/cas.html

You may also contact your state’s OSHA On-site Consultation program for free, expert

assistance: www.osha.gov/consultation

The States that operate OSHA-approved State plans can also provide assistance; some have

specific requirements for SHMS: www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/index.html

OSHA’s “$afety Pays” program is an interactive expert system to assist employers in

estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company’s

profitability: http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/safetypays/index.html

FactSheet

Effective Workplace Safety and

Health Management Systems

Every day, workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities cause immeasurable pain

and suffering to employees and their families. Recent estimates indicate that

workplace injuries and illnesses cost our nation’s businesses $170 billion per

year in wasteful and often preventable expenses.

Effective Safety and Health Management Systems (SHMS) have proven to be a

decisive factor in reducing the extent and severity of work-related injuries and

illnesses. SHMS will result in reduced injury-related costs.These savings, when

properly administered, will exceed the cost of a workplace SHMS.
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; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

DEA 3/2008

Safety and Health

Management Systems

Checklist

Management Commitment and

Employee Involvement

❏ Develop and communicate a safety and

health policy to all employees.

❏ Demonstrate management commitment by

instilling accountability for safety and health,

obeying safety rules and reviewing accident

reports.

❏ Conduct regular safety and health meetings

involving employees, managers and supervisors.

❏ Assign responsible person(s) to coordinate

safety and health activities.

❏ Integrate safety and health into business

practices (e.g., purchases, contracts, design

and development).

❏ Involve employees in safety and healthrelated activities (e.g., self-inspections, accident investigations and developing safe

practices).

❏ Recognize employees for safe and healthful

work practices.

Worksite Analysis

❏ Evaluate all workplace activities and processes

for hazards.

❏ Reevaluate workplace activities when there are

changes in:

❏ Processes ❏ Materials ❏ Machinery

❏ Conduct on-site inspections, identify hazards

and take corrective actions.

❏ Provide a hazard reporting system for employees to report unsafe and unhealthful conditions.

❏ Investigate all accidents and near misses to

determine their root causes.

Hazard Prevention and Control

❏ Eliminate and control workplace hazards (e.g.,

engineering controls, workstation design and

work practices).

❏ Establish a preventive maintenance program.

❏ Keep employees informed of safety and health

activities and conditions.

❏ Plan for emergencies (e.g., create an evacuation plan, train employees and conduct fire

drills).

❏ Record and analyze occupational injuries and

illnesses.

Training for Employees, Supervisors

and Managers

❏ Provide training on specific safe work practices

before an employee begins work.

❏ Provide additional training for new work

processes and when accidents and near misses

occur.

❏ Provide refresher training on a routine basis.

(NOTE: OSHA regulations do not require employers

to have a SHMS. Thus, the items on this checklist

are strictly voluntary with the exception of construction industry employers.)