When it comes to workplace safety, your employees are a valuable resource. As the ones who do the work each day, they have the best knowledge of the hazards that come with their specific job duties. And, your employees can likely offer some good solutions, too.
But, you might ask yourself, what’s the best way to tap that employee resource? One answer comes in the form of a safety committee. Here, you can get everyone together and discuss the risks they face each day. You can also brainstorm about potential solutions. And, you can seek help from your workers when you make policy changes related to these discussions.
Another benefit of having a safety committee is that it can fulfill the communication requirement of your Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
If you choose to have a safety committee, Cal/OSHA has specific requirements you must follow. These include:
- Meeting at least once per quarter.
- Reviewing the results of workplace inspections.
- Reviewing the results of workplace accident investigations.
- Providing written records of health issues discussed at the meetings to your employees.
- Reviewing investigations of any hazards brought to the attention of committee members.
