Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1508599
PalletCentral • September-October 2023 35 itself. OSHA observes that this prong of I2P2 provides the leadership, vision, and resources needed to implement an effective OHS program. It requires business owners, managers and supervisors to: • Make worker safety and health a core organizational value; • Commit fully to eliminating hazards, protecting workers, and continuously improving workplace safety and health; • Provide sufficient resources to implement and maintain the OHS program; • Visibly demonstrate and communicate their safety and health commitment to workers and others; and, • Set an example through their own actions. How do you communicate your commitment to the OHS management program? A clear written policy is a good first step, signed by top management and communicated to all workers, as well as to all contractors, subcontractors, staffing agencies, temporary workers, suppliers and vendors, visitors and customers. Management can take an additional step by integrating safety and health into all business decisions – including contractor and vendor selection – as well as in purchasing, and including PtD (Prevention through Design) components in new construction, facility design and modification. e National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has valuable information on its website on PtD approaches that can be shared with your architects and engineers in advance of site selection or design. Management safety leadership can also be demonstrated through establishment of specific goals and objectives for workers and managers, measuring achievement of these goals and assigning responsibility tasks and deadlines to specific individuals to aid in accountability. Goals cannot be achieved, however, unless sufficient resources are available to establish and implement the OHS program, and the resources needed will vary by type and size of the organization. Needed resources in achieving safety excellence could include funding and time allocation for adequate training, capital equipment and supplies, access to information and outside experts. OSHA also offers a free consultation program, where OHS professionals can provide a free audit. However, since nothing in life is really free, OSHA will be notified by the consultant if the employer refuses to implement the safety and health improvements that are recommended following or a Safety Leader? iStockphoto.com/relif