Is Your 

Workplace 

Safe and 

Sound?

A safety and health

program can help.

OSHA’s On-Site 

Consultation Program

offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety 

and health services to small- and medium-sized 

businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 

and several U.S. territories, with priority given 

to high-hazard worksites. On-Site Consultation 

services are separate from enforcement and do not 

result in penalties or citations. Consultants from 

state agencies or universities work with employers 

to identify workplace hazards, provide advice 

for compliance with OSHA standards, and assist 

in establishing and improving safety and health 

programs.

For more information, visit: 

www.osha.gov/consultation

www.osha.gov

10 Ways

to get your program started

1 Establish safety & 

health as a core value

2 Lead by example

3 Implement a 

reporting system

4 Provide training

5

Collect hazard 

control ideas

6

Conduct inspections

7 Implement hazard 

controls

8 Address emergencies

9 Seek input on 

workplace changes

10 Make improvements 

to the program

OSHA 3887 05R-2018 www.osha.gov/safeandsound/
WHAT IS A SAFETY AND 

HEALTH PROGRAM?

A safety and health program is a proactive way 

to manage hazards in the workplace to prevent 

injuries and illnesses. Several program models are 

available for employers to follow, including OSHA’s 

Recommended Practices for Safety and Health 

Programs, NSC’s Journey to Safety Excellence, ANSI 

Z-10, or international standards such as ISO 45001.

All successful safety and health programs 

involve three key components:

• Management leadership

• Worker participation

• A systematic approach to finding and fixing 

hazards

No matter where your business is on safety and 

health, initiating a program or energizing an 

existing one using any of these approaches can 

help you take a step in the right direction.

WHY IMPLEMENT A SAFETY 

AND HEALTH PROGRAM?

Each year, more than four million workers suffer 

from serious job-related injuries or illnesses, and 

more than 4,000 Americans die from work-related 

incidents. These incidents don’t just hurt workers 

and their families, they hurt businesses as well. 

Whether at large organizations, medium-sized 

employers, or small businesses, safety and health 

programs can improve businesses’ safety and 

health performance, save money, enhance your 

reputation, and help you be more competitive.

Safety and health programs can help you:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses

• Improve compliance with laws and regulations

• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in 

workers’ compensation premiums, pay for time 

away from work, expenses for hiring and training 

replacement workers, and loss or damage to 

material, machinery, and property

• Engage workers

• Enhance your social responsibility goals

• Increase productivity and enhance 

overall business operations

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Getting started is easy and you can do it yourself. 

OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and 

Health Programs and Recommended Practices 

for Safety and Health Programs in Construction 

have been well received by a wide variety of 

stakeholders and are designed to be used in small 

and medium-sized business settings.

These documents present a step-by-step 

approach for implementing a safety and health 

program, built around seven core elements that 

make up a successful program.

WHERE CAN I FIND HELP?

OSHA recognizes that regulations alone are 

not enough to change the safety culture in 

America, but a safety and health program is a 

way to start the journey to a safer workplace. 

Today’s responsible business owners are actively 

managing safety in the workplace—why not get 

started now?

Visit: www.osha.gov/safeandsound

Responsible Employers

Manage Safety in the 

Workplace.

DOWNLOAD

OSHA’s Recommended Practices 

for Safety and Health Programs at: 

www.osha.gov/shpguidelines 

Is Your Work place S afe and S ound? www.osha.gov/safeandsound/