Establishing and Maintaining Effective Safety Committees

Safety Committees Benefits of Safety Committees Policy Review Activities Why Do Safety Committees Fail? Effective Safety Committees Training Your Role On The Safety Committee Safety Committee Review During this presentation, we will discuss……

Benefits of Safety Committees Gets employees involved Established standards are utilized Shares the workload Facilitates communication Can be an effective tool in reducing accidents and injuries

Policy Review from the “Keolis Safety Policies and Procedures Manual” Each property will have a safety committee Safety committees will meet regularly Membership – at least 4 members, may include Ops/Maintenance Managers, Operators, Maintenance and/or dispatch personnel, Administrative employees

Policy Review from the “Keolis Safety Policies and Procedures Manual” The Safety and Training Manager will serve as the Committee Chairperson Committee members will serve for a minimum of 6 month terms Members chosen based on their individual safety and attendance records, and…..

Policy Review from the “Keolis Safety Policies and Procedures Manual” ….“safety knowledge, leadership skills, overall safety attitude and willingness to help contribute to the activities of the committee”.

Policy Review from the “Keolis Safety Policies and Procedures Manual” One member will be appointed to record meeting minutes Members will be identified to all employees, and be easily identifiable through some aspect of uniform or bulletin board posting Minutes will be documented and posted for each session, and most important…

Policy Review from the “Keolis Safety Policies and Procedures Manual” …..”Safety Committee members will be provided with the proper training in order to be effective in promoting safety initiatives”.

Activities Review accidents, incidents and injuries to help identify root cause and prevention Conduct regular safety inspections Detect and eliminate unsafe conditions or practices Participate in incentive and recognition programs Promote safety awareness and employee involvement through incentive programs Submit findings and recommend solutions to management which promote safe work practices and environments

Very important activities…… Promote safety awareness and employee involvement through: Incentive programs Safety communication programs Recognition of safety accomplishments Maintaining open communication with employees

*These are not functions of the safety committee! Determining accident / incident preventability, or….. …..serving as an accident appeals board. * These functions are administered by the Local / Regional Management Team.

Why Do Safety Committees Fail? Lack of management support No agenda No minutes Failure to stay focused Lack of training No interesting activities planned Little or no recognition of members

Effective Safety Committees Management support and involvement Agenda prior to the meeting Minutes documented and posted following the meeting Remain focused during the meeting Other elements

Safety Committee Training

Training should include: OSHA, corporate, state and local facility safety expectations Trending Analysis Components Communications Inspection forms, their uses Report formats, meeting protocols, expectations of management Keolis standards from the Safety Policies and Procedures Manual

Safety Committee Roles Safety Manager – Chair the meeting Send out the agenda Send out the minutes Follow-up on action items Organize inspections Keep the meetings focused on the agenda

Safety Committee Roles General Manager – Support the safety committee Attend meetings Require that meetings begin on time and that there will be no interruptions Hold managers and supervisors accountable for their employees’ participation in the safety committee Commit to timely follow ups, hold managers and supervisors accountable for action plan items accepted from the committee

Most important part of successful safety committees…Safety Committee Members Safety Committee Members- Attend meetings, be on time and ready to participate Solicit feedback and suggestions from employees Report unsafe conditions and acts to management Take the initiative to promote safety as a Safety Committee Team Member at all times

Summary Review company expectations Review elements of successful safety committees Review your role Questions Begin NOW!