Hawaii, which in 1985 started to require employers to have injury and illness prevention programs, saw a net reduction in work injuries and illnesses of 20.7 percent, according to a White Paper by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA examined the injury and illness prevention programs in eight states where the state had either required a program or provided incentives or requirements through its workers' compensation programs lowered injury and illness incidences by 9 percent to more than 60 percent.

Based on the positive experience of employers with existing programs, OSHA says it believes that injury and illness prevention programs provide the foundation for breakthrough changes in the way employers identify and control hazards, leading to a significantly improved workplace health and safety environment. Adoption of an injury and illness prevention program will result in workers suffering fewer injuries, illnesses and fatalities. In addition, employers will improve their compliance with existing regulations, and will experience many of the financial benefits of a safer and healthier workplace cited in published studies and reports by individual companies, including significant reductions in workers' compensation premiums, OSHA says.