Who Are The Key Players
A safe workplace environment is necessary for any organization and how it interacts with the general public. A designated committee helps keep an employer’s rules and regulations intact. However, critical steps should be followed to select the right group of individuals.
Many organizations may not know how to assemble an effective safety committee. The committee should represent a mixture of departments and should not be comprised solely of management. Employee participation should be suggested and encouraged. Otherwise, the company may not receive the committee as well.
Seven Checklist Items for Your Safety Committee
- Develop a safety program. Involve employees and ensure they are properly trained on the processes.
- Lower the frequency and severity of accidents and injuries. Serve as a safety review board for all incidents. Recommend safety measures to help prevent similar occurrences in the future.
- Maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors. Establish a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or activities.
- Conduct facility inspections to identify and correct unsafe conditions before they create an incident.
- Coordinate and ensure that evacuation and shelter-in-place drills are being conducted.
- Assure that first aid kits and personal protective equipment needs are met.
- Develop and conduct safety orientation training for new employees.
Also, the safety committee should have monthly meetings with a set agenda. Meetings should be held at the same time and day of the month to promote proactive planning and consistency. In addition, the safety committee should always remember to establish clear, attainable goals.
About the Author:
ERA Insurance Category Specialist Marlys Schmitt, CPCU, ARM, is an experienced Consulting Partner of ERA Group in Minnesota. As an advisor and advocate, her focus is to build strong relationships and deliver comprehensive cost-containment solutions for her CEO and CFO clients. During her tenure with Expense Reduction Analysts, Ms. Schmitt has led reviews of over $20 million in expenses and completed over 100 client projects. She also assists clients with ensuring their Insurance Broker’s services (including Safety Committee setup and participation) are up to par.
How ERA Group Can Help
ERA ensures your organization is obtaining the best value for your premium dollars. We will obtain optimal savings and coverage improvements, through processes such as evaluating the current state of your Insurance Broker’s Safety Committee. We verify that your specific safety committee is in compliance with insurance standards.