What is the difference between a safety program and a safety system? Why is this important?

The language we choose to describes what we do has a major impact on the success of our efforts. There is a big difference between a safety program and a safety system. A safety program is a component of a larger system referred to as a safety system.

Safety Program:

A safety program is a set of polices and work practices specifically designed by a company. It addresses OSHA regulations and ways to reduce the exposure to hazards in a work area and is a performance driven plan that focuses on the improvement of safety. Examples include: lock out/tag out, fire safety, safe lifting and safety protective gear.

Safety System:

A safety system is a risk management strategy that includes an analysis of all hazards and controls to limit exposes using a systematic approach. Everyone is held accountable for their individual management system responsibilities – including those related to health and safety (oshasas.com).

As indicated in our text, a safety system concept deals with the before-the-fact identification of hazards as opposed to the after-the-fact approach used for years (Friend & Kohn, 2010). It is often that people use the term safety system and safety program interchangeably; both are important to the safety culture of an organization but both functions perform two different purposes. The importance of distinguishing between the two functions is perception; managers and employees need to understand the significance of a safety system and what role safety programs play within the organization.

Friend, M.A. & Kohn, J.P., 2001. Fundamentals of Occupational Safety and Health (Second Edition). Rockville, MD: Government