Safety Committees EVERY SAFETY COMMITTEE SHALL 1.Be composed of employee and employer representatives and hold regularly scheduled meetings, at least.

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.o 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.• 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

• 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 Meetings

Safety Committee• Anyone can start a safety committee, but, to

be effective, the committee must accomplish the following:o Begin with management commitment.o Be accountable for achieving its goals.o Involve employees in achieving its goals.o Identify workplace hazards.o Review reports of accidents and near misses.o Keep accurate records of committee activities.o 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 groupo 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 addressedo Typically, the safety committee is an effective

safety management tool for a larger employero safety meetings are more effective for a smaller

employer

Safety Committee

• 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

GETTING STARTED

Seven Essential Activities• Anyone can start a safety committee,

but, to be effective, the committee must accomplish the following:o Begin with management commitmento Be accountable for achieving goalso Involve employees in achieving goalso Identify workplace hazardso Review reports of accidents & near misseso Keep accurate records of committee activitieso Evaluate strengths & weaknesses

Safety Committee

• 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.

EVALUATION

SAFETY CULTURE• Utilize employees’ interest and

knowledge for effective growth of a safety culture.oAn 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 PrellerSTATE OF MONTANA

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRYSAFETY BUREAU

(406) 232-8342 Office(406) 698-5584 Cell