281195
Taking action for safety and health: Helping small businesses develop effective injury and illness prevention programs (IIPPs)
Robin Dewey, MPH,
Labor Occupational Health Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Laura Stock, MPH,
Labor Occupational Health Program, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Background: Several state OSHA programs require employers to develop Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPPs) that include management commitment to safety and involvement of employees in solving safety problems. California has had an IIPP standard since 1991. Federal OSHA is exploring a standard requiring IIPPs. In California, not having an IIPP is the most often cited Cal/OSHA violation among all businesses. Objectives: This presentation describes the activities and preliminary results of the Taking Action for Safety and Health program -- California's initiative to help small businesses create effective health and safety programs that meet the requirements of Cal/OSHA's IIPP standard. Attendees will be able to describe the role that key partners can play in promoting these programs and strategies for assisting small businesses comply with the IIPP standard. Methods: Project activities included creation of a partnership with key agencies and organizations to help guide the program; a needs assessment with small business owners; development and pilot testing of a training program and written materials; outreach to small businesses; and evaluation of the program's activities. Conclusions: Numerous studies have found that active workplace IIPPs lead to reduced rates of injury, higher efficiency, greater worker productivity, and lower costs. Most small businesses in California are still unaware of the IIPP requirement or how to develop and implement an effective program. Through its unique partnership of key government agencies and private organizations, the Taking Action for Safety and Health program is providing tools to small businesses that enable them to develop effective IIPPs.
Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Learning Objectives:
Describe the role that key public and private partners can play in promoting effective workplace health and safety programs to small businesses.
Identify the promising practices that have been found to help small business owners and managers implement effective Injury and Illness Prevention Programs.
Keyword(s): Injury Prevention, Occupational Health Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I have been in the occupational safety and health education field for more than 25 years. I am the lead coordinator for the described program and have a special interest in working with worker leaders and small business owners and managers to develop and implement effective health and safety programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
