The management of occupational safety and health in workplaces is not successful without a careful planning and carrying out of the preventive measures. These measures should be based on well-based knowledge and information about the safety functions of the management system. Modern IT tools are needed for handling, communicating and using safety and health information effectively at workplaces. This study provides a useful model for describing and developing the safety and health information system in a company. The model includes the description of occupational safety and health risks, the safety and health information needs of different staff groups, and an explanation of how to use accident information in the evaluation of safety activities. As a result of the study, the IT based safety and health information system (SINET) was developed and established. This system has been used by many large companies in Finland, and it serves as an example for other similar systems.