Those trends hold true for food distribution as well, though there was a slight increase in injuries and illnesses in 1997. Workplace safety and health is not a short-term mission. It's a long-term proposition. And it requires daily diligence and ongoing commitment in the face of competing priorities for time, energy and resources. When OSHA visits a worksite, we know that protecting workers is a top priority there when we see an effective safety and health program.
Every workplace needs to take a systematic approach to preventing injuries and illnesses.
This just makes good business sense. Most companies can reduce injuries 20 to 40 percent by establishing a safety and health program. Yet only about 30 percent of U.S. worksites have established these programs. That makes no sense. My top priority is to encourage every American employer to establish a safety and health program.