According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), lost productivity from injuries and illnesses costs companies $60 billion annually.
In California, every employer is required by the state to have an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). It is your responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace for your employees. Once you reach 10 employees, the plan must be in writing.
The IIPP must be a written plan that includes policies and procedures on topics such as safe work practices, periodic inspections, what to do in the event of an accident, safety training, and recordkeeping. There are 8 specific elements that must be included in the plan:
- Management commitment/assignment of responsibilities
- Safety communications systems with employees
- System for ensuring employee compliance with safe work practices
- Scheduled inspections /evaluation system
- Accident investigation
- Procedures for correcting unsafe/unhealthy conditions
- Safety and health training and instruction
- Recordkeeping and documentation
If you employ fewer than 10 employees, you can:
- Communicate to and instruct employees orally about safe work practices.
- Choose to maintain records of inspections only until the hazards identified are corrected.
- Document training by maintaining an instruction log that you provide to a new employee or to an employee reassigned to new duties.
Seasonal employers can use a model program designed specifically for seasonal employers, available at the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) website. Additional IIPP requirements apply to specific industries, such as the construction and petroleum industries.
Keeping accurate, timely records is an essential part of an effective IIPP. The Cal/OSHA recordkeeping system requires that you record each injury, fatality or illness that is work related on the Cal/OSHA Log of Occupational Work Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300) and prepare an Injury and Illness Incident Report (Form 301). You also need to annually review and certify the Cal/OISHA Form 300 and post the Summary of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A) no later than February 1 and keep it posted where employees can see it until April 30. Records need to be maintained in your files
for 5 years.
If you need help developing your IIPP plan, please contact me at Michelle@connecttohr.com.