OSHA has established seven important key elements that companies should provide when creating an effective and compliant Health and Safety Plan for their company. The key elements are

Management Commitment and Leadership

The management should start the process of making the Health and Safety Plan. This demonstrates their commitment and responsibility  to ensuring the health and safety of each and every employee. The management needs to establish the objectives and goals in the Health and Safety Plan that are applicable company-wide. These objectives and goals serve as the foundation for developing the relevant policies, programs, and procedures in the Health and Safety Plan. Furthermore, the management should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each manager, leader, and member of the establishment. This step is essential because it marks accountability, which drives the continuous implementation of the Health and Safety.

Worker Participation

The involvement of the workers is highly important. They serve as the company's primary observers, actively participating in its processes and tasks. Their inputs would be highly valuable in creating the Health and Safety Plan. Their experience could provide the plan a more rigid structure for preventing hazards in the workplace. Furthermore, acknowledging their input helps them acknowledge their value and worth in the company, which can build encouragement to speak out and report unidentified hazards in the future. Such input helps with the continuous development of the Health and Safety Plan.

Hazard Identification

This key element  is the most crucial of all. If companies overlook or inadequately address potential hazards, it can lead to accidents, diseases, and injuries in the workplace. Establishments must take the time to evaluate all of the potential dangers in the workplace, both current and prospective. It is also important to note that it is better to take a systematic approach in identifying the hazards. Observing activities, checking your facilities, and talking to staff may help you detect risks and dangerous circumstances. Scheduling frequent inspections of the workplace to identify hazards will also eliminate any health and safety risks.

Hazard Prevention and Controls

After identifying and evaluating the risks, the next step involves selecting and implementing the appropriate controls. When deciding which controls to implement, keep the "hierarchy of controls" in mind.

The hierarchy of controls is a tool for understanding and rank control methods. Methods at the top of the hierarchy are generally more effective than those at the bottom. The hierarchy is as follows: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and provision of PPE.

Companies should also practice obtaining employees' opinions on the effectiveness and drawbacks of current safety controls. This could help with planning for alternatives and potential enhancements as you brainstorm them. Because of their close proximity to the risks and controls while working, workers often have the best understanding of them.

Education and Training

The provision of education and training can help make the plan become ingrained in the culture of the workplace rather than being soon forgotten. To ensure the implementation of the program, each and every worker must have a comprehensive understanding of the structure, plans, and processes of the Health and Safety Plan. Workers will then be able to better grasp the objectives behind a Health and Safety Plan, know how it benefits them, comprehend their roles and duties, and discover how they may participate in the development, implementation, and improvement of the program.

Safety Improvement Assessments

A safety improvement assessment assists you in evaluating how effective your Health and Safety Plan is and in determining whether it is on track to meet your objectives. This makes sure to continuously update procedures that are not effective to repel hazards. These continuous updates can enhance the effectiveness of the plan in ensuring a healthy and safe workplace.

Communication and Coordination

Today, many companies use contractors and temporary labor. These are individuals who have been employed by one company to work for another company (the "host" employer). To safeguard all employees in these circumstances, all companies must coordinate and communicate effectively. To ensure that workers are being protected, all employees on a site should be informed of the risks present and the steps required to reduce their exposure.