Worker Safety and Health Programs

Every business, regardless of its size, must provide its employees with safe working conditions. And considering the range if potential hazards on a construction site, that can be difficult. Resources for worker safety programs are available from several areas. The information comes from a variety of forms: written materials, audiovisuals, and consulting services, now also available through the World Wide Web.

Standards and rules for safe working conditions, tools, equipment, facilities and processes are set by the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration [http://www.osha.gov].  OSHA standards apply to every private employer with one or more employees, except for those in industries covered by other federal job safety legislation.

OSHA conducts workplace inspections to ensure that its standards are being met. If an OSHA compliance officer discovers hazards during an inspection, the officer may issue the employer a citation listing the alleged violations. OSHA inspectors may also propose penalties and abatement periods.

Employers who want to help in recognizing and correcting hazards and improving their health and safety programs can take advantage of free consultation service, which is funded mostly by OSHA and delivered by state governments using well-trained professional staff. A booklet available through the OSHA web site, “Consultation Services for the Employer,” contains more information about the service.

OSHA offers a number of publications designed to help businesses comply with federal safety requirements. Its Small Business Safety Management Series includes such titles as “The OSHA Handbook for Small Businesses” and “Assessing the Need For Personal Protective Equipment: A Guide for Small Business Employers.” Business owners can also download a flyer from the OSHA web site that provides an overview of the agency’s services. A variety of OSHA publications can be ordered either through the agency’s web site or by writing the Superintendent of Documents at the Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325.

Excellent sources for health and safety information are insurance carriers. Most leading carriers are willing to send a loss control expert onsite for clients who have policies as small as $5,000. Training classes, printed resource material and loss analyses are available through your insurer to any size employer. Insurance agents also have access to local safety resources. Agents that specialize in specific industries can be excellent resources for safety programs.

Local trade associations are another excellent source of information. Many trade and industry groups offer special safety training manuals and seminars for their specific industry. State and national staff are often experts on the types of loss problems that plague their particular industry. Trade associations often have special insurance programs that offer dividends to employers that participate in safety programs. Employers that participate in “safety groups” may receive anywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent of their premium back as dividends at the end of the policy year.

The Wisconsin Council of Safety (WCS) has a large library of publications and video materials on safety, as well as offering a wide variety of training programs. These programs range from a specific problem area, such as a forklift operation, to broader themes, such as techniques for involving employees in safety programs. WCS tailors its programs to respond to the needs of businesses and offers seminars throughout the state for a nominal fee. WCS also has electronic access to the National Safety Council’s library. The national library is one of the largest resources of safety and health information in the United States. Contact the Wisconsin Council of Safety at (608) 258-3400.

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce provides a consultation service for safety management practices, OSHA standards and interpretation of these standards. At the business owner’s request, a consultant will visit a site to conduct a comprehensive evaluation, or address specific issues. The consultant will not issue citations or propose penalties; nor report possible violations to OSHA for enforcement. The consultant will send a written report explaining the findings and recommending solutions. For more information on this safety consultation program, call Safety Consultation / Waukesha at (414) 521-5063, WI DOC’s hired consultations service.

The Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Division currently promotes safety through its “SAFETY WORKS FOR WISCONSIN” initiative. AN unlimited amount of safety material can be accessed at the web site http://www.sws.state.wi.us/wc . Safety topics on the web site include:

Statistics on losses broken down by industry
A quarterly electronic magazine with articles on safety issues for small – to medium-size businesses
A checklist for evaluating an insurer’s safety services
A collection of links to safety, health and medical information on the World Wide Web

Contact the Worker’s Compensation Division at (608) 266-1340 to request brochures on workplace safety and how to handle a claim for an on-the-job injury.