Courtesy of State Compensation Insurance Fund (www.scif.com)

In today's economy, the cost of doing business is skyrocketing. In order to stay in business, companies are looking for ways to hold down expenses. One way business owners can control costs is to keep their workers safe and healthy. Studies show that the cost of a worker injury or illness can add up to thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost work time, and lost income. But, when companies develop and support an on-going safety and health program, those saved dollars can be put towards profits.

Regardless of the size of a company, its safety and health program should reflect the specific business activity, its location, its workforce, and any regulatory requirement that pertains to the business. The safest companies are those where management and workers partner together to create the program. When workers have a say in establishing the rules that apply to them, they're more likely to abide by those rules.

The responsibility for the success of the program is a team effort and depends on all workers in the company understanding the various elements of the program and their role in supporting those elements. The elements of the program should be easily integrated into everyday business operation and implemented to the degree necessary to prevent worker injury or illness. Once in place, the program should be continually reviewed to assure that it reflects the existing and any new or changed conditions or hazards.

Although specific details of a safety programs may vary from company to company, these are elements common to many successful safety programs:

• There's top management commitment and leadership
• Employees are involved with responsibilities clearly assigned
• A workplace analysis has identified hazards
• Identified hazards were eliminated or controlled
• Relevant safety and health training and protective equipment was provided
• An accident investigation and recordkeeping systems is in place
• Medical and first aid systems are identified and available
• Performance goals and measurements are established

It pays to be safe. A comprehensive safety program can protect a business against financial losses and it can heighten worker morale and increase production. Every injury or illness that's prevented is money saved - money that can be put towards profits.