OSHA has published a new slide presentation on the value of injury and illness prevention programs — a proactive process to help employers find and fix workplace hazards before workers are hurt.

OSHA head David Michaels has said the issuance of an I2P2 proposal is one of his top priorities.

"Not only are these programs effective at reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, but also many employers report that they have transformed their workplace culture and led to higher productivity and quality, reduced turnover, reduced costs, and greater worker satisfaction," according to a statement by the agency.

Many workplaces have already chosen to adopt injury and illness prevention programs as part of OSHA's cooperative programs, and 34 states and many nations around the world already require or encourage employers to implement such programs. The key elements common to all of these programs are: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, and program evaluation and improvement.

To learn more and to view the downloadable presentation, visit OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs webpage.