In this Safetip, we talk about safety committees and how they operate more efficiently if their purposes are clearly defined and documented.
Safety committees are required by law in some jurisdictions
Safety committees bring together workers and employers through regularly scheduled meetings to address safety issues with the goal of creating and nurturing a culture of safety. Companies above a certain number of employees are required by law in many U.S. states to establish safety committees. In Canada, federal and provincial legislation includes requirements and guidelines for “Joint Health and Safety Committees.” Many European countries also require safety committees. Even if an organization operates in a jurisdiction without explicit requirement for safety committees, it is still a best practice to have them.
Clearly defined purposes keep safety committees focused
Some jurisdictions requiring safety committees have done a good job of defining the purposes and objectives of safety committees. But if you’re not in one of these jurisdictions, there is a risk the safety committee becomes merely a discussion forum without contributing to safety culture. To prevent this, clearly define and document the purposes of your organization’s safety committees. Here is a good list provided by WorkSafeMT:
- Promote and maintain the interest of employees in health and safety issues.
- Educate managers, supervisors, and employees through awareness and training that they are primarily responsible for preventing workplace accidents.
- Make health and safety activities an integral part of the organization’s operating procedures, culture, and programs.
- Provide opportunities for the free discussion of health and safety problems and possible solutions.
- Inform and educate employees and supervisors about health and safety issues, new standards, research findings, etc.
- Help reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnesses.
- Help ensure compliance with federal and state health and safety standards.
Additional Resources
Here are links to additional resources on safety committees, some of which were used for this post: