Fact Sheet
Elements of a Workplace Safety Manual 
The safety manual reflects the four elements of the workplace safety program:
Element 1—Management leadership and employee involvement
- Statements on the value of workplace safety and why management is committed to it
- A list of the locations where written safety and health policies are posted for all employees to see
- A schedule of when and where regular meetings are held that address employee safety and health issues
- A stipulation that abiding by all safety and health rules is a condition of employment
Element 2—Workplace Analysis
- An analysis of workplace conditions to identify and eliminate existing and potential hazards
- An outline of the procedure for reporting hazards
- What employees should expect to see in terms of investigation and relief
- Assignments for trained personnel to conduct inspections of the worksite and correct hazards
- Policy that any changes in process or new high-hazard facilities are reviewed by a competent person, and that the entity seeks assistance, if necessary, from safety and health experts.
- A schedule for future analyses (on a quarterly basis or last week of the month)
- An outline of hazards within the scope of the entity’s responsibilities
- A brief glossary of relevant safety terms
- Appropriate Forms
Element 3—Hazard Prevention and Control
- Process for training employees in proper procedures for handling specific situations
- Procedure for ensuring that employees know how to use and maintain personal protective equipment and gear
- Clear simple steps for hazard-correction procedures.
- Process for checking that hazard correction procedures are being carried out
- Process for reviewing any occurrences for underlying causes and considering how additional corrective actions might reduce the potential for future incidents
- List of ways the emergency response system can be activated
- Accident investigation procedures; how to analyze data as it relates to:
- New process or equipment
- Apparent accident/injury trends
- Cumulative trauma disorders
- High absenteeism and turnover
- Employee complaints
- Employees with reduced or limited capabilities
Element 4—Safety and health education
- Policy to allow only properly authorized and trained employees to do any job
- Process to make sure that no employees do any job in an unsafe manner, or do a job that is inherently unsafe
- Provision to hold emergency-preparedness drills using a range of scenarios for employees on a regular basis over the year
- Method to ensure that particular attention is paid to employees learning new operations to make sure they have the proper job skills and awareness of the hazards related to a particular job
- Method for training supervisors and managers to recognize hazards and understand their responsibilities in regards to workplace safety
- Accountability to ensure that supervisors and managers take their roles in workplace safety seriously
Resources
American Industrial Hygiene Association
Employee Protection Through Prevention, Center for Disease Control, Office of Health and Safety
Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Safety Council
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Online Safety Library: Material Safety Data Sheets, Oklahoma State University, Environmental Health and Safety
