Health and Management Jobs

            Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, has the responsibility of assuring the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands operate their own OSHA approved safety and health programs under section 18 of the Act. While the programs in these states may differ in some respect from Federal OSHA, the standards imposed by State Plan States must be at least as effective as Federal OSHA standards. The States that operate their own safety and health programs can be found on OSHA's website.
When workers stay whole and healthy, the direct cost-savings to businesses include:

• lower workers compensation insurance costs;
• reduced medical expenditures;
• fewer faulty products;
• lower costs for job accomodations for injured workers;

                     

                    Nobody wants accidents to happen in his or her business. A serious fire, a permanent injury, or the death of an employee or owner can cause the loss of profit or even an entire business. To prevent such losses, you don't have to turn your business upside down. You may not have to spend a lot of money, either. You do need to use good business sense and apply recognised prevention principles.

  There are four basic elements to all good safety and health programs. These are as follows:-

1. Management Commitment and Employee Involvement
2. Worksite Analysis
3. Hazard Prevention and Control
4. Training for Employees, Supervisors and Managers

     The Four-Point Workplace Program is based upon the safety and Health Program Management Guidelines issued by OSHA in January 1989. Although voluntary, these guidelines represent OSHA's policy on what every worksite should have in place to protect workers from occupational hazards. The guidelines are based heavily on OSHA's experience with its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), which recognize excellence in workplace safety and health management.