Purpose vs. Function
To understand how a committee can succeed, it is important to look at how it operates.
Purpose Vs. Function
To do that, we must understand the subtle difference between two important concepts: "purpose" and "function".
- Purpose is defined as the intended goal or reason for which something is created, used, or exists.
- Function is the specific action or activity that an object, system, or process is designed to perform.
Applying these concepts to the Safety Committee:
A committee can only achieve its purpose if it works effectively. Think of the purpose as the goal and the committee's actions as the steps needed to reach that goal.
Purpose in the context of safety committee operations, purpose explains why the committee exists—its intended goal. If the safety committee makes good decisions and follows strong plans, it will meet its goal.
Functions describe what the committee does to fulfill its purpose—the activities carried out to achieve the intended goal. Even if the committee has good intentions, if it creates weak or poorly designed plans, it will likely fail to achieve the goal. Examples of functions include the following activities:
- Review incident and near-miss reports
- Conduct workplace safety inspections
- Gather employee input and concerns
- Analyze safety data and trends
- Develop and present safety recommendations to management
Bottom line: Clearly define your safety committee's purpose. Design effective functions to achieve goals. Perform them well — and your safety committee will make a real impact.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-2. Achieving the purposes of safety committee meetings is dependent _____.
You forgot to answer the question!