1 DOE Safety Committee Handbook

2 Effective Safety Committee! Make it work for you!

3 Rate Your Safety Committee 1. Members are motivated, committee gets things done, is the cornerstone of our safety program, focuses on problem solving and safety promotion, is loved by all. 2. It meets, does some things OK, has trouble staying on track, its basic function is to review accidents and conduct safety surveys. 3. Has not accomplished anything of value in the past year, members are bored, committee is on the verge of breaking up. 4. Doesnt meet any more, is in need of life support or a mercy killing.

4 The Challenge With todays trend of streamlining and multi-tasking, administrators and management level employees are required to wear several hats. With todays trend of streamlining and multi-tasking, administrators and management level employees are required to wear several hats. This makes the Safety Committee extremely important! This makes the Safety Committee extremely important!

5 A Safety Committee is …. ….. an integral element of a comprehensive safety and health program. It serves to demonstrate top managements direction and commitment to safety as a priority of the organization.

6 Purpose of a Safety Committee: * Promote safety in the workplace. Purpose of a Safety Committee: * Promote safety in the workplace. Goals of a Safety Committee: * Increase safety awareness * Increase safety awareness * Build enthusiasm for safety programs * Build enthusiasm for safety programs * Reduce and prevent injuries * Reduce and prevent injuries

7 A Safety Committee Can Assist with: Regulatory compliance Regulatory compliance Emergency planning (bomb threat, fire, workplace violence) Emergency planning (bomb threat, fire, workplace violence) Training (OSHA, lifting, general safety) Training (OSHA, lifting, general safety) Program development and implementation Program development and implementation Ergonomics Ergonomics Safety surveys Safety surveys Job hazard analysis Job hazard analysis Accident investigation reviews Accident investigation reviews Employee safety promotion Employee safety promotion

8 High-Performing Safety Committee Positively impacts a safety program. Positively impacts a safety program. Touches all levels of the organization. Touches all levels of the organization. Liaison between administration and staff. Liaison between administration and staff.

9 Benefits of a Safety Committee (to the DOE) Benefits of a Safety Committee (to the DOE) Reduces accidents and lost work time Reduces accidents and lost work time Promotes staff involvement at all levels Promotes staff involvement at all levels Accomplishes more safety projects Accomplishes more safety projects Increases productivity Increases productivity

10 Benefits of a Safety Committee (to the employees) Benefits of a Safety Committee (to the employees) Creates a safer work environment. Creates a safer work environment. Improves communication. Improves communication. Increases safety awareness. Increases safety awareness. Enhances employee morale. Enhances employee morale.

11 Myths… Safety Committee… Relieves managers and supervisors of their responsibility for safety. Relieves managers and supervisors of their responsibility for safety. Takes the place of other safety programs. Takes the place of other safety programs. Involves only staff. Involves only staff.

12 Why Safety Committees Fail No direction. No direction. No successes. No successes. Frustration. Frustration. Boredom. Boredom. Why are we here? Why are we here? This is a waste of my time!! This is a waste of my time!! No support. No support.

13 Possible Barriers to Success Lack of… Management commitment. Management commitment. Committee expertise or training. Committee expertise or training. Teamwork. Teamwork. Leadership. Leadership. Direction and goals. Direction and goals. Follow-up. Follow-up. Focus on specific issues. Focus on specific issues. Preparation for meetings. Preparation for meetings.

14 Membership – Cornerstone of an Effective Committee All employees should have the opportunity to participate All employees should have the opportunity to participate Representation by all departments, locations, operations, divisions, - include office staff Representation by all departments, locations, operations, divisions, - include office staff Membership should be 5 to 15 (5 to 7 is optimal) Membership should be 5 to 15 (5 to 7 is optimal) Designee plus alternate Designee plus alternate Membership should be voluntary Membership should be voluntary Rotate members Rotate members Assign specific responsibilities to chairperson, secretary, and members. Assign specific responsibilities to chairperson, secretary, and members.

15 Responsibilities - Chairperson Organize agenda items, speakers, and other related materials for meetings. Organize agenda items, speakers, and other related materials for meetings. Forward recommendations to appropriate management personnel. Forward recommendations to appropriate management personnel. Prepare periodic analysis reports/accident reports, safety improvements Prepare periodic analysis reports/accident reports, safety improvements Follow-up to past recommendations and report status Follow-up to past recommendations and report status Conduct meetings in orderly fashion Conduct meetings in orderly fashion

16 Responsibilities - Secretary Prepare meeting agenda and notify members of date and location Prepare meeting agenda and notify members of date and location Gather agenda items and related materials Gather agenda items and related materials Roll call of members Roll call of members Record minutes Record minutes

17 Responsibilities - Members Attend all meetings and actively participate Attend all meetings and actively participate Set a positive example for safe performance Set a positive example for safe performance Conduct safety surveys according to schedule Conduct safety surveys according to schedule Participate in accident investigation and review Participate in accident investigation and review Report unsafe acts or conditions Report unsafe acts or conditions

18 Committee Structure Determine frequency of meeting Determine frequency of meeting Pre-schedule meeting dates Pre-schedule meeting dates Limit to one hour Limit to one hour Prepare agenda Prepare agenda Record and distribute minutes Record and distribute minutes

19 Functions of the Committee Provide a forum to address and discuss health and safety issues. Provide a forum to address and discuss health and safety issues. Provide a channel through which improvements can be recommended for adoption by the administration. Provide a channel through which improvements can be recommended for adoption by the administration. Generate ideas for improving health and safety. Generate ideas for improving health and safety. Stimulate interest of employees. Stimulate interest of employees. Review and update safety training and emergency plans. Review and update safety training and emergency plans.

20 Keys to success – Post Committee members names, give them stature and credibility. Post Committee members names, give them stature and credibility. Give the Safety Committee visibility and recognition. Post Quarterly Minutes. Give the Safety Committee visibility and recognition. Post Quarterly Minutes. Encourage reasonable, attainable goals. (Zero accidents is not a reasonable goal) Encourage reasonable, attainable goals. (Zero accidents is not a reasonable goal)

21 Accident Review Process Step beyond accident investigation. Step beyond accident investigation. Brainstorming. Brainstorming. What did we learn? What do we need to do differently? What did we learn? What do we need to do differently? Evaluate effectiveness of supervisor investigation/prevention efforts. Evaluate effectiveness of supervisor investigation/prevention efforts.

22 Spice Up a Meeting Bring in an outside speaker. Bring in an outside speaker. Hold a safety breakfast. Hold a safety breakfast. Present safety awards. Present safety awards. Designate a quarterly safety topic: Designate a quarterly safety topic: – Back injury prevention. – Fire prevention and safety. – Slips/trips/falls. – Vehicle safety. – Personal protective equipment.

23 Invite Outside Resources Fire Department. Police Department. Civil Defense DOE Safety, Security, and Emergency Networking with other schools

24 Last Safety Committee Rule Make it FUN!!!!! Make it FUN!!!!!