All employers must establish an overall plan — an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) — to keep the workforce free from work-related injuries and illnesses. Individual standards require more detailed plans, such as an Emergency Action Plan, that describe how you will help your employees stay safe on the job.

Know which safety standards apply to your organization and communicate these standards to your employees. Understanding the safety standards is essential to avoid Cal/OSHA fines and to preserve employee and workplace safety.

Take the following steps to create your safety plan:

Hang your California and Federal Labor Law Poster, which contains the required Cal/OSHA posting. For more information, see Required Posters & Pamphlets.
Maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Make sure your employees know about the workplace safety practices the plan covers. For more information, see Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
Maintain a workplace violence prevention plan. Read more about employers’ workplace violence prevention obligations in California Workplace Violence Prevention Standards.
Maintain an Emergency Action Plan. For more information, see Emergency Action Plan.
Maintain a Fire Prevention Plan. For more information, see Fire Prevention Plan.
Maintain a Hazard Communication Program (HAZCOM). For more information, see Hazard Communication Program (HAZCOM).
If one or more of your employees experienced two repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) in a 12-month period, you must create an ergonomics plan. For more information, see Repetitive Motion Injuries (Ergonomics).
Ensure that your premises and equipment comply with the Work Surfaces, Control Devices and Emergency Equipment standards. For more information, see Work Surface, Control Device and Emergency Equipment.
If you are covered by the outdoor or indoor heat illness prevention regulations, maintain an effective heat illness prevention plan, and train supervisors and employees on risks, identification, prevention and treatment of heat illness. For more information, see Heat Illness.

Depending on your industry and hazards associated with your business, you may need more written compliance programs. You must identify the additional standards applicable to your workplace.

Even if your organization is exempt from complying with part or all of a standard, consider establishing a plan or program for handling potentially dangerous situations and add it to your employee handbook or safety manual.

Creating a Workplace Safety Plan

Minimum Workplace Safety Requirements

Creating a Workplace Safety Plan