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. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
QUESTIONS
Michael Preller
STATE OF MONTANA
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
SAFETY BUREAU
(406) Office
(406) Cell