ABSTRACT
Worker safety and health (WSH) is a multidisciplinary field that deals with the safety and health of the workers. The ultimate goal of a WSH program is to foster a safe and healthy workplace for workers as well as minimize potential negative impacts to the environment. An effective WSH program will have a strategy and a program that addresses the following:
• Supports the hiring and retention of skilled workers • Ensures compliance to all regulatory and contractual requirements • Ensures personnel understand how to anticipate, recognize, evalu-
ate, and control workplace hazards • Trains and educates workers • Identifies improvement measures to support a safe work culture
A typical WSH structure is shown in Figure 4.1. In a typical WSH organization structure the program/ project support
staffs represent the portion of the organization matrixed to programs or projects and provide direct support in the area of industrial hygiene and safety. The matrixed staff is organizationally direct-lined to the functional area to maintain independence. These staff members are heavily supported by the functional subject matter experts (SMEs) who are responsible for having expert knowledge in the health and safety regulatory requirements. This portion of the staff is integrated in and reports directly to the line in a matrix structure that also has responsibility to ensure work is safely performed and personnel are trained and qualified.
