DOE Safety Committee

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DOE Safety Committee

• Handbook

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Effective Safety Committee!

• Make it work for you!

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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.

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The Challenge

• 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!

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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.

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Purpose of a Safety Committee
Promote safety in the workplace.

• Goals of a Safety Committee
• Increase safety awareness
• Build enthusiasm for safety programs
• Reduce and prevent injuries

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A SafetyCommittee Can Assist with

• ?? Regulatory compliance
• ?? Emergency planning (bomb threat, fire,
  workplace violence)?
• ?? Training (OSHA, lifting, general safety)?
• ?? Program development and implementation
• ?? Ergonomics
• ?? Safety surveys
• ?? Job hazard analysis
• ?? Accident investigation reviews
• ?? Employee safety promotion

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High-PerformingSafety Committee

• Positively impacts a safety program.
• Touches all levels of the organization.
• Liaison between administration and staff.

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Benefits of a Safety Committee(to the DOE)?

• ?? Reduces accidents and lost work time
• ?? Promotes staff involvement at all levels
• ?? Accomplishes more safety projects
• ?? Increases productivity

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Benefits of a Safety Committee (to the employees)?

• ?? Creates a safer work environment.
• ?? Improves communication.
• ?? Increases safety awareness.
• ?? Enhances employee morale.

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Myths

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

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Why Safety Committees Fail

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

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Possible Barriers to Success

• Lack of
• Management commitment.
• Committee expertise or training.
• Teamwork.
• Leadership.
• Direction and goals.
• Follow-up.
• Focus on specific issues.
• Preparation for meetings.

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Membership Cornerstone of an Effective Committee

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

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Responsibilities - Chairperson

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

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Responsibilities - Secretary

• ?? Prepare meeting agenda and notify members of
  date and location
• ?? Gather agenda items and related materials
• ?? Roll call of members
• ?? Record minutes

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Responsibilities - Members

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

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Committee Structure

• ?? Determine frequency of meeting
• ?? Pre-schedule meeting dates
• ?? Limit to one hour
• ?? Prepare agenda
• ?? Record and distribute minutes

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Functions of the Committee

• ?? 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.
• ?? Generate ideas for improving health and
  safety.
• ?? Stimulate interest of employees.
• ?? Review and update safety training and
  emergency plans.

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Keys to success

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

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Accident Review Process

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

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Spice Up a Meeting

• ?? Bring in an outside speaker.
• ?? Hold a safety breakfast.
• ?? Present safety awards.
• ?? Designate a quarterly safety topic
• Back injury prevention.
• Fire prevention and safety.
• Slips/trips/falls.
• Vehicle safety.
• Personal protective equipment.

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Invite Outside Resources

• Fire Department.
• Police Department.
• Civil Defense
• DOE Safety, Security, and Emergency
• Networking with other schools

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Last Safety Committee Rule

• Make it FUN!!!!!