Safety Committees at Work
Once a month, a group of employees at DEMCO, an Iowa-based manufacturer, complete a safety audit of a different department within the company. Their efforts have resulted in a safer workplace for all DEMCO employees. “That’s exactly the role a safety committee should play in an organization,” comments DEMCO Safety Manager Kevin Welch.
DEMCO’s experience demonstrates the benefits of having an active safety committee. These include reducing the number of workplace injuries and illnesses and their associated direct and indirect costs, increasing safety awareness throughout the workplace and complying with state safety committee laws.*
“Many factors contribute to the success of a safety committee,” explains Welch.
Get employer buy-in — Management must show its full support for the safety initiative by providing needed resources to the committee and considering the recommendations made by that committee. Without buy-in, safety committee members could easily lose their passion for safety.
Select the right people — Regardless of their tenure with the company, their work experience or their skill level, the best members are those who step forward and volunteer.
Organize the effort — Establish standard meeting times and set an agenda for each meeting. Sticking to that agenda prevents meetings from getting off track and wasting employeesÕ valuable time.
There’s one more thing Welch recommends — “Count on EMC”. From safety committee forms to meeting tips, audio-visual materials to consulting services, EMC is a great resource to help you create and maintain a safety committee focused on improving workplace safety.
For more information about safety committees, click here.
* The following states require safety committees: Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia.
