OSHA is seeking to update their Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines in 2016, and is looking to the general public for suggestions. The program focuses on finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury, illness, or death. EHS practices such as inspections, audits, near miss reporting and etc. will play a huge role in minimizing these hazards.
According to OSHA’s website, the new guidelines will include
- A proactive approach to finding and fixing hazards before they cause injury, illness or death
- Improved safety and health in all types of workplaces
- Help for small and medium-sized businesses to effectively protect their workers
- Increase worker involvement, so all workers have a voice in workplace safety and health
- Better communication and coordination on multi-employer worksites
The updated program will not impose any additional legal requirements on employers or modify existing ones. Since the standard was first published in 1989, OSHA is just looking to modernize the guidelines to accommodate for new technologies and other advancements.
If you have any suggestions on how to improve the guidelines or discussions you want to start about the proposed changes, this is a great time for you to make your contribution.
In order to make comments on the Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines, you can go to their official page or post them directly to www.regulations.gov using Docket #OSHA-2015-0018. All comments must be submitted before February 15, 2016.
