Transcript Document

Safety Committees
EVERY SAFETY
COMMITTEE SHALL
1.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.
o Have more than one safety committee for employers
with multiple sites.
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2.Include in its employee membership volunteers
or members elected by their peers.
EVERY SAFETY
COMMITTEE SHALL
1.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
Safety Meetings
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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
Safety Committee
• Anyone can start a safety committee, but, to
be effective, the committee must
accomplish the following:
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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.
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
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This gives everyone a voice but keeps the meeting
size to an effective number of participants
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
o safety meetings are more effective for a smaller
employer
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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
Seven Essential Activities
• Anyone can start a safety committee,
but, to be effective, the committee must
accomplish the following:
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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
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;
o Schedule a half-day safety committee meeting to
identify the committee’s achievements of the past
12 months.
o Review essential activities.
o Set goals for the next 12 months.
SAFETY CULTURE
• Utilize employees’ interest and
knowledge for effective growth of a
safety culture.
o 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!
QUESTIONS
Michael Preller
STATE OF MONTANA
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
SAFETY BUREAU
(406) 232-8342 Office
(406) 698-5584 Cell