The best safety programs are straightforward and easy-to-follow. By communicating your philosophy toward safety, involving your employees and setting clear boundaries, you will find that not only is your workplace safer, it is also more productive.

These steps will give you the fundamentals for starting an effective and sustainable safety program:

1. Write a company policy statement. If you are committed to a safe workplace, you must say so. By writing and sharing the policy, you let your employees know that safety is a priority. It doesn't have to be long, but it must clearly state your company's stance.
2. Involve your employees. Involve your employees in identifying and resolving safety problems. Their ownership will build safety across your company and make it more sustainable.
3. Create a hazard prevention plan. First, decide what your potential safety hazards are. Look at what injuries have happened. Second, it's time to make a plan to control each one:
• Name the hazard
• Describe a change to be implemented
• Determine who is responsible for correcting the risk
• Set a deadline for completion
• Provide funds (if necessary)
• Evaluate
4. Provide safety training. Train your employees about hazards associated with their job. Provide safety training for all new employees and for any employee who switches jobs or takes on new tasks. MEMIC helps many of our policyholders design their own programs.
5. Review your workplace. As with any plan, you must continuously review it to make certain that it is being carried out and that it is working.
6. Keep records. In order to help you maintain your safety program, it is important to keep records of your actions. You should:
• Take notes at safety meetings
• Keep notes of weekly safety talks
• Record all inspections and audits
• Document regular maintenance
• Maintain OSHA 300 form, which will also help track any accident trends
• Note all safety training activities
• Document all aspects of on-the-job accidents
7. Choose a medical provider.  MEMIC has developed a network of hundreds of medical providers who focus on occupational injuries.  It's important to begin a relationship with one before an injury occurs.  This helps the provider understand the nature of your work, and speeds recovery and return-to-work.

Check out MEMIC's Safety Director for access to sample safety programs, hazard prevention plans, checklists, and more to assist you in making your workplace safe.