What should be the first step in developing a safety program?

Identifying potential hazards is recognized as the foundational step in developing a safety program. This is crucial because understanding the specific risks and hazards present in a workplace environment allows safety professionals to tailor the program effectively to address those issues. By identifying potential hazards first, organizations can prioritize risks that may pose the greatest danger to employee health and safety. This baseline assessment informs subsequent steps such as developing safety policies, employee training programs, and implementing control measures.

Conducting employee surveys, creating a safety budget, and scheduling regular feedback sessions are important aspects of an effective safety program, but they are secondary to the hazard identification process. Without first understanding the hazards, any surveys or budgets developed may not effectively address the actual risks the employees face. Therefore, hazard identification sets the stage for all subsequent safety initiatives and ensures the safety program is relevant and effective in mitigating risks.