A committee established by the
employer, made up of employee and management representatives, the aim of which is to promote co-operation and keep under review the measures taken to ensure the health and safety at work of the
employees. The employer has a duty to set up such a committee not later than three months after receiving a written request from at least two
safety representatives.
Composition and structure
The membership and structure of safety committees should be settled in consultation between management and the trade union representatives, and should aim at an adequate representation of the interests of management and of all the employees, including safety representatives. The number of management representatives should not exceed the number of employee representatives. Management representatives should not only include those from line management but such others as work engineers, personnel managers and supervisors. In undertakings where a
company doctor, nurse, occupational hygienist or safety officer/adviser is employed, they should be ex-officio members of the safety committee. Other company specialists, such as project engineers, chemists, organisation and method staff and training officers might be co-opted for particular meetings when subjects on which they have expertise are to be discussed.
FunctionsWithin the general objective of promoting co-operation between employers and employees in investigating, developing and carrying out measures to ensure the health and safety at work of the employees, certain specific functions are likely to be defined which could include:
1) the study of accidents and notifiable disease statistics and trends, together with recommendations for corrective action;
2) examination of safety audit reports, and of other reports and information provided by safety representatives and inspectors of the enforcing authority;
3) assistance in the development of works safety rules and safe systems of work;
4) a watch on the effectiveness of the safety content of employee
training and of safety and health communication and publicity in the
workplace;
5) providing a link with the appropriate enforcing authority;
6) conducting inspections in certain circumstances, in addition to those already the duty of the employer.
Other informationThe employer shall post a notice stating the composition of the committee and the workplace or workplaces to be covered by it in a place where it may be easily be read by employees.
Safety committees should meet as often as necessary. The frequency of the meetings of the safety committee will depend on the volume of business, which in turn is likely to depend on local conditions, the size of the workplace, numbers employed, the kind of work carried out and the degree of
risk inherent. Agreed minutes should be kept and circulated to committee members; relevant safety representatives; the senior executive responsible for health and safety; and adequate copies displayed or made available by other means.
