Safety Program Management and Administration
This domain tests how a safety and environmental program is designed, who is accountable for each element, how performance is measured, and how the records that prove compliance are controlled. Expect management-system frameworks, metric calculations, and recordkeeping administration.
Program architecture
- OSHA's Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs lists seven elements: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, program evaluation and improvement, and communication and coordination with contractors and staffing agencies.
- ISO 45001 runs on Plan–Do–Check–Act, with clauses for context, leadership and worker participation, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. It replaced OHSAS 18001.
- Accountability is the testable point: line managers own the hazards in their areas, EHS staff design and advise, and executives set objectives and fund controls.
Metrics
- TRIR = (recordable cases × 200,000) ÷ hours worked. The 200,000 represents 100 full-time workers × 40 hours × 50 weeks.
- DART = (cases with days away, restricted work, or job transfer × 200,000) ÷ hours worked.
- The experience modification rate is set by a rating bureau; 1.00 is average, and it drives workers' compensation premium and contractor prequalification.
- Leading indicators predict: inspections completed on schedule, corrective actions closed by the due date, percent of risk assessments current, near-miss reporting volume.
Administrative control
- Build a training matrix linking each role to required courses and refresher intervals, with signed attendance and revision history.
- Control documents by revision number, approver, effective date, and retention period.
- Apply management of change to chemicals, equipment, processes, and organization, not just capital projects.
- OSHA injury records: Form 301 per case, Form 300 log, and Form 300A annual summary, posted February 1 through April 30 and retained five years.
Worked example
An establishment works 480,000 hours and records six OSHA-recordable injuries. Two cases involved days away; one additional case involved only a job transfer to lighter duty; three required medical treatment with no lost or restricted time. TRIR = 6 × 200,000 ÷ 480,000 = 2.5. DART = 3 × 200,000 ÷ 480,000 = 1.25, because the two days-away cases plus the transfer case count, while the three medical-treatment-only cases do not. Dividing by headcount instead of hours, or reporting TRIR as the DART rate, is the standard error.
Traps that cost marks
- Counting first-aid-only cases as recordable; 1904.7 requires medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Treating an experience modification rate below 1.00 as worse than average.
- Making the safety manager the sole accountable owner of every hazard.
- Assuming the 300A stays posted all year.