OSHA is considering a proposed rule for a formal Injury and Illness Prevention Program and will hold informal stakeholder meetings on the proposal. The proposal would require employers to develop a formal program to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses through a systematic process that proactively addresses workplace safety and health hazards.
(From a Safety.blr.com article)Â Â On the basis of OSHA’s experience with workplace safety programs, a proposed rule would include the following elements:
- Management duties
- Employee participation
- Hazard identification
- Hazard prevention and control
- Education and training
- Program evaluation and improvement
 Injury and Illness Prevention Program State Requirements   There are 24 states that require a written injury and illness prevention program for certain industries, mostly as a requirement for worker’s compensation insurance coverage. 16 states offer discounts on workers’ compensation premium rates of up to 5 percent for qualifying organizations that voluntarily adopt and implement written safety and health programs.
California, for example, requires employers to have formal written injury and illness prevention programs. BLR has prepared written tips and considerations to help employers develop an injury and illness prevention program based on California’s requirements, and they cover OSHA’s proposed program elements:
OSHA Provides Incentives for Injury and Illness Prevention Programs
OSHA has a policy of reducing penalties for employers who have violated OSHA standards but who have demonstrated a good faith effort to provide a safe and healthy workplace to their employees. The Agency has long recognized the implementation of a safety and health program as a way of demonstrating good faith.
