In an effort to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently launched the Safety Champions Program, a tool that helps employers develop and implement an effective safety and health program in the workplace.

The program has three advancing steps (introductory, intermediate, and advanced), each featuring content in a tiered structure to help employers build health and safety programs gradually, tailoring the practices best suited for their business.  It is self-guided, so participants can work at their own pace, and participants may also request a Safety Champion Special Government Employee (SGE) to assess their safety and health program and progress at any time.

The Safety Champions Program incorporates the seven core elements of OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, prevention and control, education and training, program evaluation and improvement, and communication and coordination.

In order to complete the Safety Champions Program, participants are required to advance through all three levels, implementing all seven elements

and showed plans for continuous improvement of their safety and health programs, thus demonstrating their commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

This endeavour hopes to help increase OSHA’s outreach and help employers develop the necessary tools to improve safety and health for all employees.