The regulation requires that a Safety Committee must be co-chaired by a worker and an employer representative. In addition, at least 50% of a safety committee members must be workers. The safety committee carries out four functions as specified in the Act:
- Identify situations which may be unhealthy or unsafe in respect of the worksite;
- Make recommendations to prime contractors, contractors, employers and workers for the improvement of the health and safety of workers at or on the worksite;
- Establish and maintain educational programs regarding the health and safety of workers at or on the worksite; and
- Carry out other duties and functions prescribed by the OHS Code (e.g. monthly safety meetings, inspections)
Confidentiality
As a member of your safety committee or as a safety representative, you have taken a position of trust and responsibility to your fellow workers, managers, and owners. You will be given the necessary tools and information to do this job effectively and efficiently. All committee members/safety representatives must remember that should information that you receive be considered confidential, this confidentiality must be respected.
- Purpose of a Safety Committee
An effective work site health and safety committee can encourage management and workers to work together to identify and resolve health and safety problems. The committee or representative provides a forum for constructive and regular dialogue between managers and workers about health and safety concerns at their workplace. Safety committees can play a role in:
- developing programs to control health and safety problems;
- maintaining a safe work place;
- recommending changes to improve the company health and safety program, and;
- promoting compliance with requirements of the safety program.
- Functions of a Safety Committee Representative
- To identify workplace hazards.
- Help establish general safety procedures.
- Conduct regular safety inspections.
- Conduct safety meetings at least once every other month.
- Help other workers/managers express their safety concerns.
- Help design and administer safety training programs.
- Be part of WHS inspections.
- Investigate refusal to work concerns.
- Investigate appropriate injuries/accidents/ near misses.
- Keep minutes of committee meetings and post those minutes.
- Analyze workplace injuries, accidents, and incidents.
- Fire prevention.
- Review company safety statistics/reports and make recommendations.
- Consult on legislative regulations.
- Review audit reports and ensure items are corrected.
- Selection/Election of Committee Members
The worker representative (s) may be selected/elected by the workers that they represent. Whether this is done by an election or a volunteer process is up to the discretion of the workers/ and management.
- Term of Office
To ensure that many workers and managers take part in our health and safety committee, we recommend that a members office be no greater than two years.
- Safety Committee Training
Each safety committee member should have basic understanding of their role, responsibilities, and pertinent government health and safety legislation.
Working knowledge should include:
- Functions of the safety committee
- Role of committee members
- How to conduct a safety audit
- Fire evacuation and emergency procedures
- How to participate in safety concerns
- Right to refuse unsafe work practices
- Safety responsibilities of an employer
- Safety responsibilities of a worker
- Accident/incident investigation
- Company safety policies
- Government safety legislation
- WHMIS
- Appropriate company WCB processes
- Role of a Chairperson
The primary responsibility is the running of the health and safety committee meetings. The chairperson must plan and conduct the meetings in a professional and efficient manner realizing the importance and productivity of such meetings. The chairperson must prepare the agenda, circulate it to the committee members, and post it a least one week prior to the meeting, making sure that all members are aware of the location, time and date of the next meeting, and act as a moderator during discussions. Also, the chairperson may act as the spokesperson to management regarding safety concerns and recommendations.
- Number of and Length of Committee Meetings
The committee will meet monthly and each meeting be organized so that an agenda is followed, with set responsible time frame. Special meetings may be called as required.
- Secretary's Responsibilities
Each committee will have someone responsible for taking minutes/discussion of the meeting. The person responsible for this position should be a good note taker, have a sense of organization, and be able and have the time to prepare the minutes, send them out to the appropriate people and have them posted.
- Role of the Committee Members
Each and every member of the health and safety committee has a role to play in ensuring the committee meets its objectives.
Each member should:
- Attend meetings
- Obtain information if assigned to do so
- Contribute his/her experience and ideas
- Listen to the concerns and suggestions of his fellow workers and managers
- Convey worker/manager safety concerns to the safety committee or management as appropriate
- Participate in workplace inspections
- Undertake special tasks for the committee
- When appropriate, participate in accident/incident investigations
- Accompany WHS inspectors during site inspections, if requested by that inspector
- Attend required training
- Keep up-dated on current legislation
- Set a good example
- Report unsafe work conditions and practices
- Submit agenda items for committee review
- Time to Attend Meetings
A member of the safety committee should be given such time from work as is necessary to attend the safety committee meetings and inspections.
It is recommended that committee members suffer no loss in pay for carrying out their duties.
- Minutes of Committee Meetings
All minutes will be posted in the lunchroom to ensure that they are accessible to all workers and should also be distributed to designated management, to all safety committee members.
- Safety Committee Inspection
A Safety committee member should be involved in the monthly safety inspection. The areas of responsibility include all plant areas, office areas, outside grounds and even the roof. This inspection should be a joint effort between management and the safety committee member.
- Employer Responsibilities
CorSafety.ca will provide such assistance and cooperation to the safety committee as is necessary for carrying out its role.
- Provide all relevant information necessary so that the committee may do its job properly.
- Give the worker and management representatives the time to be part of the committee
- When requested by WHS ensure that a worker member takes part in all WHS inspections
- Post the names of all committee members
- Respond to all recommendations of the safety committee
- Provide necessary training to committee members
- Provide the safety committee with any written directions or rep[ort from WHS
- Consult with the safety committee in the development of worker education and training programs
- Accident Investigation
Fatality or critical Injury
- The safety committee should form, within a reasonable period, an accident investigation committee, naming a committee chairperson
- The committee should consist of a member of management, a member or members of the worker representatives who are most knowledgeable for the circumstances.
- The committee should also complete a thorough investigation of the fatality, reporting to upper management its findings, conclusions, and recommendations
- It is recommended that a trained safety committee member investigate the accident with the supervisor of the injured worker, and report the findings at the next safety committee meeting.
- All first aid injuries that have been reported should be reviewed by the safety coordinator and the findings will be reviewed by the safety committee.