Florida Safety and Health: What you need to know

Safety and health in the private sector workplace are regulated by rules adopted under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and enforced by OSHA. There is no federal or state law that governs occupational safety and health in public sector workplaces (state, county, and municipal governments, school systems, commissions, etc.). A comprehensive discussion of the OSH Act is available.

Voluntary Protection Program. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has concluded that effective management of worker safety and health will result in reducing the extent and the severity of work-related injuries and illnesses. The four basic elements of an effective management program are management leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, prevention and control, and employee training. The agency believes that effective management will address all work-related hazards, including potential hazards that could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices. Effective management will address hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. OSHA's experience in the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) has also shown that effective management of safety and health protection improves employee morale and productivity and significantly reduces workers' compensation costs and other less obvious costs of work-related injuries and illnesses. The VPP is designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management. In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish a cooperative relationship at a workplace that has implemented a strong safety and health program. In the VPP, OSHA partners with employers and employees to ...