Safety Committee Development
The safety committee’s primary purpose is to structure an effective program to reduce the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims.
The safety committee should be composed of a number of employees from management and the labor force. The safety committee becomes a forum for arriving at mutual solutions to problems that helps to ensure both management and labor acceptance. It's very important that communications occurs between management and the employee workforce. Ideally, at least one supervisor and one employee from each area will be represented. Other individuals with supervisory responsibilities regarding environmental or safety and risk should be included.
The committee should meet at least quarterly.
Seven rules for a successful safety committee:
-
Meetings are well organized and follow an agenda;
-
The committee has established a purpose and rules for members;
-
Action items, activities, projects are assigned to members and completion dates set;
-
Standards of behavior or ground rules are established - “committee culture;”
-
Formal and informal communications are clear and occur often; and
-
Member involvement and input is encouraged and recognized.
-
Minutes are taken, distributed and signed by all participants.
For additional information and support on developing and implementing a safety committee, please contact Sunny Bradford.
Additional resources: