Health and safety committees in the workplace consist of worker and management members. Specific legislation defines how each member of the committee is selected. Labor laws in Canada state that the number of management members should be lower than the number of worker members.

 

The purpose of health and safety committees is multifold:

- Recognizing and evaluating workplace hazards and risks
- Developing and implementing health and safety programs
- Consulting with professionals and technical experts
- Monitoring safety programs effectiveness, and more

Here are the ten main questions a health and safety committee should answer in their meetings:

  1. Is everyone working as safely and efficiently as possible?
  2. What are your current safety and regulatory risks?
  3. Are all members of the organization, including the managers, represented in EHS program decisions?
  4. Are all aspects of the EHS program functioning as intended?
  5. Are there any gaps in the program, and what needs to be improved?
  6. How soon will the changes be made?
  7. Who is responsible for coordinating changes?
  8. What are the improvement costs?
  9. How high is the ROI on the improved safety program?
  10. What is the schedule for future inspections and audits?

Ensure all workers are trained in health and safety protocols and familiar with the processes that lead to maximum efficiency and productivity.

Identifying workplace hazards and risks is the first step towards a safer work environment for all.

EHS stands for Environment, Health, and Safety. It is a system of procedures, regulations, laws, and plans that protect the health and safety of the environment and company personnel. Each member of the organization should be included in making the decisions relevant to their health and safety in the workplace.

Regular comprehensive analysis of the program will yield answers to whether or not any changes have to be made to improve the overall health and safety. Make the decisions on what areas need improvement and what the organization as a whole (as well as each individual) can contribute.

Indefinite timeframes aren't doing anyone any favors. Come up with realistic predictions on how soon you can adjust your EHS program. The quicker, the better. Appoint an experienced, well-trained, reliable health and safety manager to delegate all the tasks related to implementing the EHS changes. If there is a need for it, put together a team of trustworthy people.

How much the improvements will affect the organization's budget is one of the most crucial questions to answer, as well as the next one about the ROI. A fully optimized safety program should protect everyone's health and safety in the organization and save finances in the long run.

To make sure your EHS regulations are up to standards and that all your personnel is as safe as possible, you need to schedule regular monitoring and review meetings for the future.

Takeaway

Health and safety committees are invaluable for an organization. During their meetings, they need to answer various questions to determine all the hazards and risks the organization personnel are exposed to. An all-encompassing and practical EHS program needs to be put in place or adjusted if there is room for improvement.

The committee's other goal is to calculate the impact that potential EHS changes will have on the budget.

Regularly scheduled health and safety committee meetings will ensure that your organization follows health and safety standards and that all the common and uncommon workplace risks are under control.

Tags: safety management, workplace safety, inspection management

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