The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has issued voluntary program management guidelines to
encourage employers to do more than just comply with regulations to
prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
Although compliance with the law, including specific
OSHA standards, is an important objective, an effective program looks
beyond specific requirements of law to address all hazards. It
seeks to prevent injuries and illnesses, whether or not compliance is
at issue.
The language in these guidelines is general so that it
may be broadly applied in general industry, shipyards, marine terminals,
and longshoring activities regardless of the size, nature, or
complexity of operations. Construction activities are not covered by
this guideline because they are already covered under OSHA's construction
standards.
The guidelines, a distillation of successfully applied
safety and health management practices, are advocated by safety and health
professionals and consultants representing corporations,
professional associations, and labor unions.
The
Guidelines
The guidelines call for systematic
identification, evaluation, and prevention or control of
general workplace hazards, specific job hazards, and potential
hazards, which may arise from foreseeable conditions.
The extent to which a program is described in writing
is less important than how effective it is in practice. As the size of a
worksite or the complexity of a hazardous operation increases, however,
the need for written guidance increases to ensure clear communication
of policies and priorities and consistent and fair application of rules.
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