An occupational safety and health coalition is calling for companies to adopt risk-based safety and health strategies. The group, The Intersociety Forum (ISF), comprises two dozen organizations including The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). It released a report that highlights several ways a business model of safety and health can create a strategic advantage that powers positive business outcomes.
“We urge today’s business leaders and policymakers to prioritize environmental, health and safety practices as a foundation of economic growth,” said ASSP CEO Jennifer McNelly, in a statement. “When workers are protected from injuries and illnesses, they perform at their best, which fosters productivity, innovation and global competitiveness. Safety strengthens resilience and enables businesses to thrive.”
Despite advancements in technology, workplace injury and fatality rates have remained relatively flat for the past decade. In 2023, a worker died on the job every 99 minutes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In its report, ISF identified three core principles that help ensure workers return home safe and healthy every day. These principles are 1) Standards and worker well-being; 2) Embracing risk and safety management systems; and 3) Revolutionizing recordkeeping for predictive insights.
“This guidance that goes beyond compliance can bring life to workplaces across the nation, empowering workers to perform at their peak,” McNelly said. “There are benefits to reducing operational disruptions and maximizing efficiency through a sustainable workforce. Simply put, safety is good for business.”
ISF’s full report contains a QR code for organizations to show their support of the core principles. The coalition’s CEOs plan to meet with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) once the new assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health is announced later this year.
“It’s vital that the coalition has achieved meaningful cross-organization collaboration to speak as one voice from the safety industry,” McNelly said.
