scope:

Abstract:

Occupational safety and health is a concern for workers and employers alike. Workplaces have many different types of hazards, and thousands of people are injured, disabled, or killed on the job each year. The goal of occupational safety and health is to reduce the injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace.

Having a safe place to work is good for your health; it is also good for your business. The costs associated with injuries and illnesses, lost wage compensation, insurance premiums, hiring replacement workers, damaged equipment, and lost production are immense expenses for businesses and the economy in general.

Many U.S. workplaces have a staff of professionals with university degrees and experience in occupational safety and health. However, in many companies the task of developing and implementing injury and illness programs falls to employees with experience and responsibilities in other areas such as the human resources manager, the security officer, or the quality control manager.

Basics of Occupational Safety and Health provides an introduction to the development of programs that reduce injuries and address regulatory requirements. At the same time, this book describes how good health and safety programs improve the sustainability of the organization through continuous improvement.