OSHA Alliance with Abbott Leads to Case Studies on Benefits of Successful Safety and Health Programs

Good workplace safety and health practices are good business--that's the emphasis of a new series of case studies that are a product of OSHA's Alliance with Abbott. Through the Alliance, signed in 2003, OSHA and Abbott worked with the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business to develop case studies that communicate the business value and competitive advantages of an effective safety and health program that can be incorporated into business school and executive education curricula.

"These case studies offer useful information and demonstrate the correlation between safety and health excellence and business excellence," said Jonathan L. Snare, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "They provide practical examples of how this correlation can protect worker safety and health, improve employee moral, and increase quality, efficiency and profitability."

The case studies focus on a variety of industries and safety and health issues. One case study describes how Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island was able to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) related workers' compensation cases with lost workdays by implementing a new ergonomics program and increasing workstation evaluations. A second case study discusses the reduced injury rates and workers compensation claims experienced at two nursing home facilities that implemented "no-lift" programs. (Via Yahoo! News)