Workplace Safety Risk Management for Beginners

Ensure employee health and safety with high-quality safety risk management programs

Workplace safety risk management consists of establishing programs and practices which are designed to ensure worker safety and health. The principal laws governing safety management in the workplace are administered by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Assuring that the workplace is safe is a business owner’s priority because not only it is the right thing to do but also because implementing risk and safety management programs will help them avoid legal penalties and reduce insurance costs.

Workplace risk management encompasses all factors that impact the health, safety and well-being of employees. Employee safety risk management includes eliminating and controlling environmental hazards, preventing unsafe working conditions or processes, avoiding drug and alcohol abuse as well as violence in the workplace. If you are a new small to medium sized business owner, you will want to approach the subject as if you were taking a course on workplace safety risk management for beginners. Start by:

1. Finding sources for information on risk management in the workplace.

2. Investigating a consultant or safety risk management firm that can provide guidance.

3. Considering software programs that can help you save time and money.

 

Investigate sources of information on workplace risk management

There are some basic programs that every business should consider as part of a worker safety risk management program and include such things as a fall protection program, a hearing loss prevention program and an accident prevention program to name a few. There is no need to invent your own if you can utilize programs that have been developed by others.
Try: Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industries provides a list of business safety risk management programs which should be put in place and samples of each one. SafetyDOCuments offers ready to download and use safety manuals, training modules, guides and a safety library on CD.

Locate a consultant that has expertise in risk and safety management

Because of the complexity and scope of risk and safety management an experienced professional can be very helpful to a business owner. Some of the services a consultant can provide include ergonomics consulting, OSHA abatement strategies, drug and alcohol policies and environmental management for starters.
Try: Performance Based Safety is a network of workplace health and safety risk management consultants who can customize a safety risk management at work program for your company. The Safety Department provides a basic primer on what to look for in a consultant.

Investigate software programs that can help you with workplace risk management

Safety risk management software can help an organization identify trends and conduct root cause analysis, manage worker's compensation, comply with government regulations as well as manage lost time and reduce absences.
Try: Automated Workplace Safety provides software solutions for safety professionals wanting to demonstrate productivity gains. Medgate has over 25 years of experience working with workplace safety risks and has created a software package that can help your employees work safer and healthier.

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