6 Steps to Creating a Safety Management Plan for Your Business

11 Jan 6 Steps to Creating a Safety Management Plan for Your Business

Does your business have a Safety Management Plan?

With the new year beginning a great goal for your business is to complete and implement a safety management plan.   The rewards for your efforts will be an effective and productive workplace with a low level of loss and injury.  In order to do this, you will need to consider your company’s immediate needs and plan for long lasting worker protection.

Here are six steps that will guide you in the right direction.

Step 1:  Designate Responsibility – You must determine who, in your business, will be responsible for implementing this plan.  It may be you, the owner, or you may choose a key supervisor or manager who is committed to the personal health and safety of your business and has the time to develop and manage this plan.

Step 2:  Ask for Help – If you are unsure where to begin you should consider contacting your state OSHA Consultation Program.   A state consultant will survey your workplace for existing or potential hazards.  Click here for CONN-OSHA consulting services.

Step 3: Organize the Workplace – Let your employees know that you want to make your workplace safer and get them involved.  Clean up your business by making sure exits are not blocked, mark aisles and passageways, make sure that you are providing adequate lighting where it is needed, etc.  These small fixes will lead to more productive work.

Step 4: Start Gathering Information Pertinent to Your Situation – Begin to gather information about your current workplace conditions and business practices that include your safety and health program.  Find out what works well and what areas you will need to improve upon. This information will help you identify any problem areas and what you will need to do to address them.

Step 5: Establish a Four-Point Safety and Health Program:

1. Management Commitment – You need commitment and involvement.
2. Involve Your Employees – Create buy in with your staff and boost morale.
3. Worksite Analysis – Identify the potential hazards in your workplace.
4. Prevent and Control Hazards – Use OSHA as a resource for guidelines and effectiveness.

Step 6: Develop and Implement Your Action Plan – Your action plan should dictate what has to be done, the order it should be done in, who is responsible, and where you want to be upon completion.

Creating a quality safety and health management plan will take time and research, but in the end you will be pleased by its results.  If you would like more information or have questions, please contact the SAVA team at (860)-437-7282.  We would be happy to assist you.