New OSHA safety initiative kicks off in June

June 6th, 2017 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will begin a new workplace health and safety initiative in June, with the first edition of Safe + Sound Week occurring from June 12 through June 18. The week of awareness-raising efforts is similar to other OSHA initiatives, like the National Safety Stand-Down, which focuses mainly on falls in the construction field. Safe + Sound Week has a broader, more universal application, however. This event emphasizes general workplace safety and employee health considerations in a variety of industries and markets.

Improving workplace health and safety outcomes

Alex Acosta, secretary of the Department of Labor, noted that plenty of work can be done to improve the environment of workers in many industries, as well as their health and safety-related occupational knowledge and skills.

"Our nation has made great strides in raising awareness about the importance of workplace safety, yet more than four million workers suffer serious job-related injuries or illnesses annually," Acosta said in a statement shared in a DOL press release. "We can do better."

OSHA has a number of partners involved in the initiative, including the American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Society of Safety Engineers, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Safety Council. Additionally, there are close to 100 industry and professional groups and trade associations working with the federal regulator.

The goals of the event are broad and can apply to many different businesses, from smaller organizations just starting to develop health and safety standards to large corporations with entrenched EHS regulatory compliance plans. The overall point of Safe + Sound Week is to develop, review and positively change current rules so workers have the safest environment possible.

OSHA has a number of resources available for businesses that want to emphasize a variety of health and safety priorities to their staff. These elements, all found on the official OSHA website for Safe + Sound Week, include:

• Educational videos.
• A nationwide list of related events.
• A framework for developing individualized Safe + Sound Week plans.

While businesses should already have a strong program in place to keep workers safe no matter their specific duties or location inside or outside facilities, Safe + Sound Week offers an opportunity to review, enhance and develop effective strategies. Keeping employees safe is a major priority from operational, regulatory and duty of care perspectives, and OSHA's new initiative can help businesses fine tune those efforts.