Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•. Employers. are. advised. and. encouraged. to. institute. and. maintain. in. their.
establishments. a. program. that. provides. systematic. policies,. procedures,.
and. practices. that. are. adequate. to. recognize. and. protect. their. employees.
from.occupational.safety.and.health.hazards.
•. An. effective. program. includes. provisions. for. the. systematic. identiica-
tion,.evaluation,.and.prevention.or.control.of.general.workplace.hazards,.
speciic.job.hazards,.and.potential.hazards.that.may.arise.from.foresee-
able.conditions.
•.
Although. compliance. with. the. law,. including. speciic. OSHA. standards,.
is.an.important.objective,.an.effective. program. looks.beyond.the.speciic.
requirements. of. law. to. address. all. hazards.. This. effectively. will. seek. to.
prevent.injuries.and.illnesses,.whether.or.not.compliance.is.at.issue.
•.
The.extent.to.which.the.program.is.described.in.writing.is.less.important.
than.how.effective.it.is.in.practice..As.the.size.of.a.worksite.or.the.complex-
ity.of.a.hazardous.operation.increases,.however,.the.need.for.written.guid-
ance. increases. to. ensure. clear. communications. of. policies. and. priorities.
and.consistent.and.fair.application.of.rules.
The.primary.elements.that.should.be.addressed.within.this.program.are.man-
agement.leadership.and.employee.participation,.hazard.identiication.and.assess-
ment,.hazard.prevention.and.control,.information.and.training,.and.evaluation.of.
program.effectiveness.
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Management.commitment.and.employee.involvement.are.complementary..Manage-
ment. commitment. provides. the. motivating. force. and. the. resources. for. organizing.
and.controlling.activities.within.an.organization..In.an.effective.program,.manage-
ment.regards.workers'.safety.and.health.as.a.fundamental.value.of.the.organization.
and.applies.its.commitment.to.safety.and.health.protection.with.as.much.vigor.as.to.
other.organizational.purposes..Employee.involvement.provides.the.means.through.
which. workers. develop. and. express. their. own. commitment. to. safety. and. health.
.protection,.for.themselves.and.for.their.fellow.workers.
Management.must.state.clearly.a.worksite.policy.on.safe.and.healthful.work.and.
working.conditions,.so.that.all.personnel.with.responsibility.at.the.site,.and.person-
nel.at.other.locations.with.responsibility.for.the.site,.understand.the.priority.of.safety.
and.health.protection.in.relation.to.other.organizational.values.
Management.must.establish.and.communicate.a.clear.goal.for.the.safety.and.health.
program.and.objectives.for.meeting.that.goal,.so.that.all.members.of.the.organization.
understand.the.results.desired.and.the.measures.planned.for.achieving.them.
There.must.be.visible.top.management.involvement.in.implementing.the.program,.
in.order.to.make.it.known.that.management's.commitment.is.serious..In.turn,.employ-
ees.must.be.encouraged.to.be.involved.in.the.structure.and.operation.of.the.program.
and.in.decisions.that.affect.their.safety.and.health;.their.commitment,.insight,.and.
energy.will.help.achieve.the.safety.and.health.program's.goal.and.objectives.
