Abstract

Every organization should provide a safe and healthy workplace for all stakeholders by putting “people before profit”. Such a workplace must be consciously created, assessed, and internally examined through regular audits before the government conducts their inspections. Business owners, managers, and employees should know that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections do not always come with a warning, as inspectors can enter a business at any day or time without scheduling their arrival. As such, all employees must work safely and be prepared for an unannounced inspection. Every business should have a formal checklist for audits and daily usage on a periodic basis to ensure the safety of their workers in a healthy work environment. The benefits of implementing an effective safety and health program can be many, including higher optimism of the workforce, improved company reputation, and lower Workers’ Compensation Insurance rates. This paper provides an overview of common safety measures in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements. Data, statistics, examples, checklist recommendations, and audit suggestions are provided for managers and human resource professionals to internally assess the organization on a periodic basis to proactively prevent accidents, injuries, and possible citations by the federal government or state health inspectors. Managers must pay even closer attention and provide additional training for underage school children that work part-time as they are more vulnerable and not allowed to use certain machines and heavy equipment in the workplace. Leaders and managers must develop and emphasize a “people before profit” mindset to create an organizational culture that is focused on safe work practices. It is important that all managers and human resources professionals understand that all USA companies must provide their employees with a safe and healthy work environment. Furthermore, these professionals must know the OSHA regulations and state laws which are applicable to their firms and industries so that the organization can be in full compliance with the requirements. Of course, we recommend that managers and firms go above and beyond the law to put “people before profit” in the organization’s culture. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, which is enforced by OSHA, has done an excellent job of getting managers and human resource professionals to make sure their places of work are as safe as possible. They have produced many great informational content and training materials that are freely available for all workers, managers, owners, and corporate executives to use in their pursuit of a safe and wholesome workplace. Consequently, OSHA standards and rules have become a part of corporate America, which has been a positive approach. A practical example that most American workers are familiar with is the “Fire Safety” procedures as all employers have a Fire Prevention Plan. Consequently, most firms and institutions in the United States regularly practice for fire safety drills; as such, it has become a part of their organization’s culture. And so should be the mindset of putting “people before profit”.

Keywords: safety, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, OSH Act, healthful.

JEL Classification: F00, I00.

Cite as: Mujtaba, B. G., & Kaifi, B. (2023). Safety Audit Considerations for a Healthy Workplace that Puts «People Before Profit» and OSHA Compliance. Health Economics and Management Review, 4(1), 11-25. https://doi.org/10.21272/hem.2023.1-02

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

References

1. California OSHA State Plan (2022). Retrieved from [Link]
2. Child Labor Regulation (No. 3, 29 C.F.R.&570.35). Code of Federal Regulations. National Archives. Retrieved from [Link]
3. Commonly Used Statistics (2022). OSHA Data and Statistics. Retrieved from [Link]
4. Dear, J.A. (1996). Assistant Secretary’s letter to Mr. Frank White, Vice President of Organization Resources Counsellors, Inc. Retrieved from [Link]
5. Dobrich, W., Dranoff, S., & Maatman, G. (2002). The Manager’s Guide to Preventing a Hostile Work Environment: How to Avoid Legal and Financial Risks by Protecting Your Workplace from Harassment Based on Sex, Race, Disability, Religion and Age. McGraw Hill Professional. [Google Scholar]
6. Dreier, H. (2023). Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the US. Retrieved from [Link]
7. EAP (2022). Create Your Own Emergency Action Plan (EAP). US Department of Labour; OSHA. Retrieved from [Link]
8. EBI (2022). Erosion Barrier Installations. Retrieved from: [Link]
9. Enforcement (n.d.). Occupational Safety and Health Administration: US Department of Labour. Retrieved from [Link]
10. eLaws Advisors (2022). US Department of Labour: FLSA Hours Worked Advisor. Retrieved from [Link]
11. Fick, A., & Holik, H. (12 April 2022). Teens are missing out on jobs. And your state could be to blame. USA Today. Retrieved from [Link]
12. Jackson, H., Mathis, R., Meglich, P., & Valentine, S. (2017). Human Resource Management (15^th ed). Cengage Learning: United States. [Google Scholar]
13. Justia (2022). General Work Environment. Retrieved from [Link]
14. Kun, M. S., Ruzal, J. H., & Sullivan, K. (2022). Wage and Hour Self Audits Checklist (N.D.). Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. Lexus Practice Advisor. Retrieved from [Link]
15. Mujtaba, B. G. (2022). Workforce Diversity Management: Inclusion and Equity Challenges, Competencies and Strategies.
16. Mujtaba, B.G., & Meyer, C. (2022). Checklist for Professional Communication: A Path to a Healthy Personality, Reflective Mindfulness, and Self-Development Management. Health Economics and Management Review, 3(3), 99-108. Retrieved from [Link]
17. National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (16 December 2021). Bureau of Labour Statistics. Retrieved from [Link]
18. OSHA Activity Data (2022). Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Enforcement: Inspection Activity. Retrieved from [Link]
19. OSHA Employer Rights and Responsibilities (2018). OSHA Employer Rights and Responsibilities: Following a Federal OSHA Inspection. Retrieved from [Link]
20. OSHA EAP (2022). Create Your Own Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Retrieved from [Link].
21. OSHA Fact Sheet (2022). Reducing the Risk of Worker Exposure to Disease-Carrying Ticks. Retrieved from: [Link].
22. OSHA Fact Sheet (2004). Planning and Responding to Workplace Emergencies. Retrieved from [Link]
23. OSHA News Release – Region 8. (2022). US Department of Labour finds contractors ignored safety requirement which led to worker’s 65-foot fall from an elevated scaffold. Retrieved from [Link]
24. OSHA News Release – Region 4 (2022). US Department of Labour cites Florida company for numerous safety failures after investigation into how 22-year-old diver working in canal drowned. Retrieved from [Link]
25. OSHA New Release – Region 4 (2022). Profit over people: Alarming trend continues at Dollar General stores where seven Southeast inspections again find wilful violations. Retrieved from [Link]
26. OSHA News Release – Region 5 (2022). US Department of Labour calls on Amazon to improve severe weather emergency procedures following warehouse collapse. Retrieved from [Link].
27. OSHA News Release (2020). US Department of Labour cites Florida manufacturer for amputation, noise and other safety and health hazards. US Department of Labour: Region 4. Retrieved from [Link]
28. OSHA Presentations (2022). OSHA 10-Hour General Industry: Outreach-Trainer Presentations. Retrieved from [Link]
29. OSHA Steps (2022). OSHA Compliance Assistance Quick Start. Retrieved from [Link]
30. OSHA Step 5 (2022). OSHA Outreach Training Program: Step 5. United Stated Department of Labour. Retrieved from [Link]
31. Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs(2016). OSHA #3885. Retrieved from [Link]
32. Safety and Health Programs (2017). OSHA 10-hour Outreach Training General Industry. Retrieved from [Link].
33. Smith, M. L. (2022). 4 key steps to maintaining HR compliance. HR Executive. Retrieved from [Link].
34. Staff Writer (2020). Why Is Auditing Important? Retrieved from [Link]
35. Training Requirements (2015). Training Requirements in OSHA Standards. US Department of Labour: OSHA. Rtrieved from [Link]
36. US Department of Labour (2016). Children Labour Provisions of the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA) for Non-Agricultural Occupations. US Wage and Hour Division, FS 43. Retrieved from [Link]
37. Zalewski, E. (2022). Audits and Inspections. J.J. Keller: Safety Management Suite. Retrieved from [Link]