In an effective SMS, management demonstrates visible safety and health leadership and provides the necessary resources to operate the SMS. Safety staff continually develops the system in place, provides coaching to the workforce, and promotes active involvement in safe and healthful work practices. Employees then follow established procedures, providing input and feedback regarding the effectiveness and overall perception of safety and health. Employees gradually become more involved in the system, participating in many of the SMS sub-elements and contributing to safety and health improvements. Upper management must be committed to funding and staffing the VPP. Management must also make an extra effort to get involved in VPP activities such as safety committees and VPP training events. Once started, upper and middle management must be committed to achieving VPP recognition. All-inclusive management, leadership, and employee involvement ensures the worksite has:

• Top management visibility
• Safety and health policies communicated
• Employee involvement active and meaningful
• Management has responsibility, accountability and provides adequate resources
• Employees involved in safety and health planning, feedback taken into account
• Contractor oversight

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Sub-Elements for Management Leadership and Employee Involvement (ML&EI)

1. Management Commitment to Safety and Health Protection and to VPP Participation
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman, Michael Hancock

2. Policy
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

3. Goals, Objectives, and Planning
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman, Michael Hancock

4. Visible Top Management Leadership
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

5. Responsibility and Authority
Program Support Contact:

6. Line Accountability
Program Support Contact:

7. Resources
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

8. Employee Involvement
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman, Michael Hancock

9. Contract Employee Coverage
Program Support Contact:

10. Written Safety and Health Management System
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman, Michael Hancock

Worksite analysis ensures the identification of S&H hazards through:

• Baseline S&H hazard analyses of all work areas
• Frequent hazard analyses of routine and non-routine jobs, tasks, and processes
• Pre-use analysis of new equipment, materials, chemicals, facilities, processes, and project sites
• Hazard analyses of significant changes, including process modifications, facility changes, and changes in design or engineering plans
• Routine self-inspections, ensuring every workspace is inspected at least once each quarter
• A hazard reporting system, including an anonymous reporting component
• A hazard tracking system to prioritize hazards by risk, assign responsibility, and track identified hazards and safety deficiencies and suggestions to closure
• Investigation of all mishaps, including near-misses, to determine root causes and contributing factors
• Comprehensive trend analysis going beyond injuries and illnesses (e.g., near-misses, inspections, accident investigations, employee hazard reports) and focusing on leading indicators.

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Sub-Elements for Element 2 Worksite Analysis

1. Hazard Analysis of Routine Jobs, Tasks, and Processes
Program Support Contact: Michael Hancock

2. Hazard Analysis of Significant Changes, New Processes, and Non-Routine Tasks - Including pre-use analysis and new baselines
Program Support Contact:

3. Routine Self-Inspections
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman, Michael Hancock

4. Hazard Reporting System for Employees
Program Support Contact: Michael Hancock

5. Industrial Hygiene Program
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

6. Investigation of Accidents and Near-Misses
Program Support Contact:

7. Trend/Pattern Analysis
Program Support Contact: Michael Hancock

Once hazards have been identified (Element II), the control of that hazard must begin. Below is a list of items that must be included in your Safety and Health (S&H) management system to ensure a comprehensive effort in managing hazards:

• A consistent disciplinary system that operates for all employees (including supervisors and managers)
• An occupational health care program appropriate for your workplace. The program should include, at a minimum, nearby medical services, physician care, staff trained in first aid and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and hazard analysis by licensed health care professionals as needed
• A written preventive/predictive maintenance system that reduces safety-critical equipment failures and schedules routine maintenance and monitoring
• A system for initiating and tracking hazard correction. The system should include documentation of how and when hazards are identified, controlled or eliminated, and communicated to employees
• Written Emergency Response Plans that include requirements for:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
First Aid
Medical Care
Emergency Egress
List provision for: Emergency Telephone Numbers, Exit Routes, Medical Care, and Annual Evacuation Drills

The following hierarchy should be applied to eliminate or control hazards. The hierarchy of control (in preferred order) is as follows:

o Engineering solutions that provide the most reliable and effective protection
o Administrative controls that limit daily exposure, such as job rotation
o Work practice controls, such as rules and work practices that govern how a job is done safely and healthfully
o PPE

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Sub-Elements for Element 3, Hazard Prevention and Control

1. Certified Professional Resources Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

2. Hazard Elimination and Control Methods
– Engineering Controls
- Administrative Controls
- Work Practice Controls and Hazard Control Programs
- Safety and Health Rules and Disciplinary System
- Personal Protective Equipment
Program Support Contact:

3. Process Safety Management (if applicable)
Program Support Contact:

4. Occupational Health Care Program
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

5. Preventive/Predictive Maintenance
Program Support Contact:

6. Tracking of Hazard Correction
Program Support Contact: Michael Hancock

7. Emergency Preparedness
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman, Michael Hancock

Training for safety and health must ensure that managers and supervisors understand their safety and health leadership responsibilities and:

• Are aware of existing hazards
• Can identify hazardous conditions
• Can identify signs and symptoms of workplace related illness
• Understand safe work practices
• Understand emergency procedures and their responsibilities for each type of emergency
• Understand personal protective equipment (PPE):
o Requirements
o Limitations
o Maintenance
o Use

Training programs must have in place a method for assessing employee comprehension and training effectiveness. Additionally:
o All training that individual employees receive should be documented
o Frequency of training must meet OSHA standards
o Non-OSHA required training must be provided at sufficient intervals

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Sub-Elements for Element 4, Safety and Health Training

1. Managers
Program Support Contact:

2. Supervisors
Program Support Contact:

3. Employees
Program Support Contact: Michael Hancock

4. Emergencies
Program Support Contact: Mike Troutman

5. PPE
Program Support Contact: Michael Hancock