701 Effective Safety Committee Operations

Characteristics of an Effective Safety Committee Meeting

Meetings Are Organized

The committee chair has planned the meeting. The meeting starts and ends on time. Committee members follow an agenda that includes new and old business. Brief training may be included when it supports the committee's current work.

A well-planned meeting can leave limited time for urgent issues or new information while keeping most discussion focused on the published agenda.

Role and Purpose Are Understood

The shape of the meeting is a function of the perceived role the safety committee plays. The role of the safety committee answers the question, "Who are we?" The role also determines the purpose, or "what the safety committee does." It's very important that all members clearly understand what their role and purpose are.

For instance, you might want to increase awareness about the cost of accidents. An operational objective supporting this goal might be stated as, "Educate all employees in our plant about direct and indirect accident costs by the end of the year."

The Extent of Authority is Understood

The committee's authority should be defined by employer policy and any applicable state-plan, collective-bargaining, or other requirements. Federal OSHA encourages worker participation in safety and health programs but does not generally require every employer to establish a safety committee. Authority, accountability, role, and purpose are interrelated and should be clearly understood.

Create Standards of Behavior

Ground rules that shape the "committee culture" are extremely important. What are the commonly accepted norms of behavior during the meeting? Establishing and posting written ground rules will help keep the meeting effective. More on this later.

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