Safety committees play an important role in many workplaces. Not only do they write safety policies, but they also lead training sessions, resolve conflicts, and implement new ideas. If you're part of the safety committee at your workplace, consider these mistakes you'll want to avoid.
Learn more in Workplace Safety Communication and Practices.
Common safety committee mistakes
- Fill the committee with only management. The most unbiased and fair safety committees include people from all levels and departments.
- Allow a passive person to lead the group. Because safety can save lives and deeply affect a company, a safety committee leader must be willing to take a stand, lead discussions, make tough decisions, engage each member, and ensure participation.
- Refuse to write a mission statement. Even if a state or insurer mandated your safety committee, you still need a mission statement that defines each member's role and ensures committee efficiency.
- Don't offer training. A safety committee will only be effective if it's staffed with members who understand health issues, safety analysis, and accident investigation.
- Meet sporadically and don't require members to attend. The most effective safety committees meet regularly, and each member prioritizes attendance.
- Don't record meeting minutes. Publishing minutes summarizes the issues you discuss, ensures accountability, and jump-starts the next meeting's agenda.
- Don't set goals. Measurable, achievable short-term and long-term goals ensure safety precautions are put into place.
- Complain. There is a time and place to raise general workplace concerns, but safety committee meetings should focus on legitimate safety issues only.
- Forget to follow through. If the committee sets goals or assigns tasks, follow up to make sure those tasks get done.
- Start one committee for all locations. Individual sites may require unique safety guidelines, so each location should have its own committee or contribute site-specific input.
A safety committee plays a crucial role at your workplace. If you're part of it, avoid these 10 mistakes to help the committee operate smoothly and efficiently. For additional guidance on communicating safety across your workplace, see Enhancing Workplace Safety Communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should be on a safety committee?
A representative mix of staff from different departments and levels is best, including front-line workers, supervisors, and management to ensure balanced perspectives.
How often should the committee meet?
Meetings should be scheduled regularly—monthly or quarterly depending on workplace risk—and attendance should be expected for members.
What should be included in meeting minutes?
Minutes should record attendees, discussed issues, assigned actions, deadlines, and progress updates to ensure accountability.