October 2006 - Making the Business Case for Safety and Health

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in alliance with other organizations, has launched a new topic's page, Making the Business Case for Safety and Health. The information provided on the Web page is aimed at demonstrating to employers that investment in workplace safety and health can help them save money and improve productivity and profitability.

Workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses cost industry billions of dollars every year. Even one serious workplace injury can significantly affect the bottom line of a small business. According to OSHA, employers that implement effective safety and health management systems may expect to significantly reduce injuries and illnesses and reduce the costs associated with these injuries and illnesses, including workers' compensation payments, medical expenses, and lost productivity. In addition, employers often find that process and other changes made to improve workplace safety and health may result in significant bottom-line improvements.

OSHA and its partners provide answers to the following questions on the Web site:

• What are the costs of workplace injuries and illnesses?
• How can I show the economic benefits of workplace safety and health?
• What information is available by industry, or safety and health topic?
• How can designing for safety improve workplace safety and health and improve my bottom line?
• What additional information is available on making the business case for safety and health?
• How do I get started improving workplace safety and health?

The Web site may be found at www.osha.gov/dcsp/products/topics/businesscase/index.html#alliances.

COPYRIGHT ©2005, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.