Safety Committees

Safety Committees greatly expand the presence and influence of the safety department.  A Safety Committee can act as a two-way communication device for the safety department: taking information and the safety message to workers, bringing input back for action.

The Safety Committee:

• notes areas of potential improvement in the safety environment
• makes recommendations for the implementation of changes that improve the safety environment
• influences other employees to comply with safety requirements
• encourages other employees to work in a safe manner
• influences management support of the safety effort by the EHS Department

Select a small number of employees. One client of mine with 800 employees invited over 25 people to participate – that is too many, but there is no exact formula.  Normally, a group representing 2% to 5% of the employees will be just about right.  Select people who have influence over others.  Select lead employees vs supervisors.  Supervisors are OK if they are supportive of safety, but inviting conflict is not the best choice.

Have the Safety Committee meet regularly.  Once each month should be about right unless they are assigned a special project.   Having the Safety Committee wear distinctive dress is good – hat, vest, badge, etc. – something to make them stand out.

Caution:  Do not ask questions you do not intend to answer.  If you sell the Safety Committee as a solution, treat everything they bring you seriously.  You will get a share of goofy suggestions, but you do more harm by not addressing an issue than you do by ignoring it in the first place.

Train the Safety Committee to do inspections of their own work are and those around them.  At the start of your monthly meeting, do a walk-through of a section or the entire facility.  Discuss the inspection findings at the meeting.

Contact us at: SafetyRich@gmail.com

Look over our Web site: SafetyRich