How to build 9 safety and health programs commonly required by OSHA

Whether you’re a small business with only a few employees or a government entity with thousands, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires you to have safety and health programs that meet their workplace standards. 

Knowing which programs your workplace is supposed to have, let alone how to build and sustain them, can seem very confusing. But we’ve put together a new online resource, Building your safety and health programs, that will get you started.  

On this page, you will find an outline of the programs required by OSHA for most employers, along with materials and videos on how to create, develop, and maintain them. 

“These specific programs cover the most common exposures employers encounter,” says Luke Betts, safety management consultant at SAIF. “Customizing them to your operation will form a solid foundation to reduce risks to employees.” 

Nine safety and health programs for your workplace 

1. Energy control | Control hazardous energy in the workplace  
2. Confined space | Define confined space and plan for confined space rescue 
3. Heat illness prevention | Learn the requirements and training to prevent heat illness 
4. Bloodborne pathogen exposure | Determine exposure and recordkeeping requirements 
5. Hazard communication | Requires for safe chemical storage and use 
6. Emergency action | The basics of an emergency action plan 
7. Fire prevention | Resources to create an effective fire prevention plan 
8. Personal protective equipment | Evaluate work tasks to determine the necessary PPE 
9. Respiratory protection | Learn about the air quality index, medical evaluation, and the impacts of wildfire smoke 

Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list and all employers must evaluate their operations for hazards that could require a program. Oregon OSHA has specific rules that this list may not cover. See OSHA's Summary of the Most Common Programs Required by the OSHA Standards for more information.

“Every company still needs to do their own risk assessment to determine program needs. These resources and templates are only a guide and are of little value if you don’t tailor them to the unique hazards at your operation,” says Betts. 

Which programs are required for my workplace? 

While ours is a helpful resource to get you started, it’s not a comprehensive list. OSHA’s Compliance Assistance Quick Start is a helpful tool to identify the major OSHA general industry requirements and guidance materials that may apply to your workplace.  

A year’s worth of OSHA compliance reminders   

We’re covering a new topic each month with timely tips and resources to keep your health and safety program on track—including the most common OSHA citations such as forklift training, respiratory protection, and emergency plans. 

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