Safety Committee Development Services
A common thread in companies with a sound safety program and culture is the safety committee. If developed and chaired correctly, a safety committee can fulfill several rolls, including:
Centralizing all safety issues and matters- Conducting safety compliance audits and inspections
- Conducting hazard assessments
- Recommending and implementing corrective actions
- Creating and maintaining return to work programs
- Coordinating employee safety training
- Developing and maintaining contractor safety procedures
- Maintaining emergency preparedness
- Reviewing, updating and implementing written safety procedures
- Reviewing and evaluating work related injuries/illnesses/near misses
- Developing and implementing safety incentive programs
A safety committee should include at least one upper management person, and a representative number of supervisors, union representatives and employees. It is essential that a safety committee has the authority to make change. The level of authority will depend on a committee’s membership and the extent of its responsibilities. Committees that lack management support very often are ineffective.
Safety committees should meet regularly, preferably not less than once a month. Infrequent meetings lead to a loss of interest and deterioration of the safety program. Meetings should have an agenda and be kept brief. Smaller committees, where all members are able to participate, are usually more effective. Member rotation is important because a self-perpetuating group tends to stagnate. Rotating members make the best use of knowledgeable and talented employees. By staggering tenure, the committee will always have a share of experienced and inexperienced members.
Establishing a new safety committee or reactivating a dormant one is not an easy task; it takes knowledge, dedication and perseverance. Because of the broad experience and diversified disciplines that Total Environmental & Safety, LLC (Total) brings to the table, we can make what sometimes appears to be an impossible task not only doable, but beneficial.