Safety and Health Program - Changes and Updates

It has been more than 30 years since OSHA first published its document, Guidelines for Safety and Health Programs. OSHA states that "the main goal of safety and health programs is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, their families, and employers. The recommended practices use a proactive approach to managing workplace safety and health."

OSHA's updates to its guidelines better reflect today's workforce, which has changed significantly in the last few decades. The updates take the following changes into consideration:

• The economy has continued to shift away from manufacturing and more toward service (and from a fixed to a more mobile workforce).
• Automation of work activities has integrated technology, computers, and robotics into the workplace (often introducing new types of hazards not dealt with in the past).
• Greater workplace diversity has led to more languages being spoken in the workplace.
• An aging workforce (and the rise of sedentary work and lifestyle) puts some workers at higher risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
• An awareness of work safety has led to industries that were once considered "safe" to be accurately labeled today as "hazardous" (thus requiring hazard training).

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