The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced its new Safety Champions Program, intended to assist employers in developing and implementing an effective safety and health program. 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 Safety Champions Program is a voluntary cooperative program and operates separately from OSHA’s enforcement of employers’ obligations under the OSH Act. Accordingly, the agency assures employers that participation in the SCP has no impact on any OSHA enforcement activity or determination.

The SCP features three Steps (Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced) to help participating employers develop safety and health programs that incorporate the seven elements of OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs. These seven elements are:

1. Management leadership

2. Worker participation

3. Hazard identification and assessment

4. Hazard prevention and control

5. Education and training

6. Program evaluation and improvement

7. Communication and coordination for host employers, contractors, and staffing agencies

Participants may use the Safety Champions Tracker to track their progress and achievement of each action that is required at each Step. Participants can receive assistance from Safety Champions Special Government Employees (SGEs) by requesting this support from the SCP Coordinator. SGEs may help participants by reviewing safety and health program documentation, providing feedback to participants about their progress, and answering questions from participants as needed.