As the year comes to a close, many organizations reflect on performance, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Alongside financial and operational results, workplace health and safety deserves equal focus.
A strong health and safety program not only protects employees and patients—it also supports compliance, efficiency, and long-term business stability. Year end is an ideal time to pause, assess what’s working, and prepare your organization for a safer, more resilient year ahead.
Over the course of a year, businesses change. New employees are hired, processes evolve, equipment is added, and regulations are updated. Without intentional review, gaps can quietly develop in safety programs.
A year-end health and safety check helps organizations:
* Identify risks before they lead to injuries or citations
* Reinforce accountability and employee engagement
* Ensure compliance with OSHA and other regulatory requirements
* Reduce workers’ compensation claims and downtime
* Start the new year with clear priorities and confidence
For general industry environments, proactive safety planning is far more effective—and far less costly—than reactive fixes.
For general industry employers, year end is a good time to revisit foundational elements of your safety program, including:
1. Program Documentation
Ensure required programs are current and reflect how work is actually performed. This may include hazard communication, injury and illness prevention, emergency action plans, lockout/tagout, or PPE policies.
2. Training Effectiveness
Confirm that employees received required training—and that it was documented. Consider whether refresher training or onboarding updates are needed based on incidents or near misses from the past year
3. Hazard Assessments
Workplace conditions can change quickly. Conducting or updating job hazard analyses and facility walkthroughs can uncover risks that may have been overlooked earlier in the year.
4. Incident Trends
Review injury logs, near misses, and corrective actions. Patterns often reveal underlying issues that can be addressed before they escalate.
Year-end reviews are most valuable when they lead to clear next steps. Consider setting health and safety goals for the coming year, such as:
* Updating written programs and policies
* Scheduling annual or refresher training
* Conducting third-party audits or gap assessments
* Assigning clear ownership for safety responsibilities
Even small improvements can make a meaningful difference in reducing risk and supporting compliance.
Health and safety is not a one-time task—it’s an ongoing commitment that protects people and strengthens your business. By taking time at year end to reflect and plan, organizations across general industry can enter the new year better prepared, more compliant, and more confident.
If you’re unsure where to start or would like an objective review of your current program, partnering with a qualified health and safety professional can help turn uncertainty into clarity—and plans into action.
Here’s to a safe, healthy, and successful year ahead.
A fresh year is the perfect time to take a closer look at your health and safety program. In general industry a focused review can uncover gaps, reduce risk, and strengthen compliance.
Our consulting services provide practical, industry-specific support—from program assessments and regulatory compliance reviews to training and ongoing advisory support—so you can protect your people and your business with confidence.
Contact us today to schedule a year-end or new-year health and safety review and start the next year on a safer foundation.
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