Safety Committees

2. Safety Committees

3. EVERY SAFETY COMMITTEE SHALL • Be composed of employee and employer representatives and hold regularly scheduled meetings, at least once every four months. • Be of sufficient size and number to provide for effective representation of the workforce. • Have more than one safety committee for employers with multiple sites. • Include in its employee membership volunteers or members elected by their peers.

4. EVERY SAFETY COMMITTEE SHALL • Include safety committee activities that assist the employer in fact finding. • Assessing & controlling hazards • Assessing safety training & awareness topics • Communication with employees regarding safety committee activities • Developing safety rules, policies and procedures • Educating employees on safety related topics • Evaluating the safety program on a regular basis • Inspecting the workplace • Keeping job specific training current • Motivating employees to create a safety culture in the workplace • Reviewing incidents of workplace accidents, injuries & illnesses

5. Safety Meetings • Accident and Hazard Reporting • Near Miss Reporting • Confined Spaces • Fire Safety • Emergency Procedures • Ergonomics • First Aid • Walking/Working Surfaces • Lockout/Tagout • PPE • Fall Protection • JHA

6. Safety Committee • Anyone can start a safety committee, but, to be effective, the committee must accomplish the following: • Begin with management commitment. • Be accountable for achieving its goals. • Involve employees in achieving its goals. • Identify workplace hazards. • Review reports of accidents and near misses. • Keep accurate records of committee activities. • Evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.

7. Safety Committee • There is a difference between a safety committee and a safety meeting • A safety committee is an organizational structure where members represent a group • This gives everyone a voice but keeps the meeting size to an effective number of participants

8. Safety Committee • A safety meeting includes all employees and a management person is there to ensure that issues are addressed • Typically, the safety committee is an effective safety management tool for a larger employer • safety meetings are more effective for a smaller employer

9. Safety Committee GETTING STARTED • Update your company’s S&H policy • Understand a safety committee’s seven essential activities • Determine how many representatives will serve on the committee • Determine who will serve on the committee • Set practical goals for the committee • Train representatives • Hold regular meetings

10. Seven Essential Activities • Anyone can start a safety committee, but, to be effective, the committee must accomplish the following: • Begin with management commitment • Be accountable for achieving goals • Involve employees in achieving goals • Identify workplace hazards • Review reports of accidents & near misses • Keep accurate records of committee activities • Evaluate strengths & weaknesses

11. Safety Committee EVALUATION • Evaluation answers the question “Are we effective?” • Effective safety committees periodically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and the evaluation helps them set new goals. • At least once a year; • Schedule a half-day safety committee meeting to identify the committee’s achievements of the past 12 months. • Review essential activities. • Set goals for the next 12 months.

12. SAFETY CULTURE • Utilize employees’ interest and knowledge for effective growth of a safety culture. • An environment where everyone… • Takes responsibility for personal safety and safety of others! • Follows all safety rules! • Makes suggestions to improve safety! • Promptly reports accidents, losses and unsafe conditions!

13. QUESTIONS Michael Preller STATE OF MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY SAFETY BUREAU (406) 232-8342 Office (406) 698-5584 Cell