Hazard Reporting Workers should be able to notify management of conditions that appear hazardous and receive timely responses without fear of reprisal. Work plays a central role in people’s lives. Work place environments should be safe and healthy. Often it is the lack of attention given to health and safety that results in injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses can be very costly and can have serious direct and indirect effects on the employer. It has been estimated that indirect costs of an accident or illness can be four to ten times greater than the direct costs. For small employers the cost of one accident can be a financial disaster. Costs to the employer include: Payment for work not performed Medical and compensation payments Repair or replacement of damaged machinery and equipment Reduction or a temporary interruption of services Increased training expenses and administrative costs Possible reduction in the quality of work Negative effect on morale in other workers Replacing injured or ill worker Training new workers Reduced productivity of new worker Poor public relations Recommendations Address all work-related hazards. Communicate about solutions to hazards so that they can be addressed in other settings. Spend time in the field talking about concerns and observing work practices. Log of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses is used to classify work-related injuries and illnesses and to note the extent and severity of each case. This is a form that is required by OSHA to be kept by all employers with for each establishment and site. The purpose of the log is to keep track of injuries and illnesses; it is not for worker compensation or insurance purposes. Listing a case on the log does not mean that the employer or worker is at fault or that an OSHA standard is violated. More information about the Log of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses.