Management leadership and employee involvement (ML&EI) is one of the four elements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). This element is necessary in creating an effective safety management system (SMS) as well as developing a positive workplace safety culture.

Please see the following SMCX-developed presentations for more information on specific ML&EI topics:

In an effective SMS, management demonstrates visible safety and health leadership and provides the necessary resources to operate the SMS. Safety staff continually develops the system in place, provides coaching to the workforce, and promotes active involvement in safe and healthful work practices. Employees then follow established procedures, providing input and feedback regarding the effectiveness and overall perception of safety and health. Employees gradually become more involved in the system, participating in many of the SMS sub-elements and contributing to safety and health improvements. All-inclusive management, leadership, and employee involvement ensures the worksite has:

• Management's commitment to worker safety and health protection and VPP
• Visible leadership efforts to promote safety and health
• Adequate safety and health planning, resourcing, and budgeting
• Established safety and health management system procedures
• Procedures to hold individuals accountable for safety and health responsibilities
• Union statement(s) in place to support VPP site participation
• Safety and health protection and oversight of contractor employees
• S.M.A.R.T.¹ safety and health goals and objectives derived from trend analysis results, focusing on continuous improvement
• Access to safety and occupational health professionals and other certified resources
• Meaningful employee participation in at least three (3) ways
• Systems and processes enabling and supporting a strong safety and health culture
• A comprehensive annual self-evaluation of the safety management system

¹ S.M.A.R.T.— Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound