In at least 16 states in the U.S., the answer could be yes. These states have various requirements, based on the number of employees and a company’s loss record, that may make it illegal for a company not to have a safety committee:
- Alabama
- California
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Washington
*Please check with your state to verify requirements, as laws may change.
How to Start a Safety Committee
With this information in mind, employers need to know how to set up and run a safety committee. Here’s how in four easy steps:
- Select or elect committee members. There should be representatives from all departments, divisions, and supervision levels. Company management, or someone with the authority to authorize expenses and decisions for management, should also be represented. Members can be volunteers or selected by workers. Membership in the committee should be on a regular rotation, with workers rotating on and off on a schedule. A chairperson should be elected, and someone should take minutes and they should be typed up for permanent records.
- Schedule and hold an initial meeting. At this meeting the committee will determine when and how often they will meet (usually not less than once a month), discussing and prioritizing the duties of the committee, and determining if any subcommittees need to be started.
- Responsibilities of the committee may include developing the company’s written safety plan, providing training for committee members and other workers, inspections, incident reviews or investigations, assessing the effectiveness of the safety program and the committee, engaging specialists or speakers, approving safety purchasers, and developing procedures.
- Continue to hold regular meetings and make minutes available to all employees. Keep a file or notebook with meeting minutes, inspection checklists, investigations, etc. This information may be required and asked for if there is an incident or investigation.
The goal of a safety committee is to help keep all employees at a company safe and healthy while at work. It is a chance for management to show employees that safety is a priority. While it may be a legal requirement in some states, it is a good business practice for all companies.
Photo: DepositPhotos
