Workplace Safety Committee

Many people, including the Nonprofit Risk Management staff, believe that workplace safety must be everyone's concern and that the collective "everyone" needs a leader to consistently address and promote safe practices in the workplace.

In most small to mid-size organizations a single person serves this purpose. The role of "workplace safety coordinator" can be incorporated into someone's job description — it does not have to be a separate position. Various personnel must be able to perform specific steps to identify and control hazards. In larger organizations, a safety director, safety manager or safety officer, sometimes under the leadership of a professional risk manager, is in charge of the workplace safety program and appoints a workplace safety committee to assist in implementing the workplace safety program.

Membership

Membership in the workplace safety committee is determined by the nature of the organization's operations. Usually all supervisors (department heads or program managers) serve on the committee. Other employees and volunteers and special advisors?an insurance professional, a firefighter, or a police officer?may be invited to attend.

Committee Chair

The committee is chaired by the workplace safety coordinator. The chair leads the committee, schedules monthly safety meetings, serves as the contact with outside agencies on safety matters, and retains all safety-related documents. The chair is able to function best with direct access to the executive director or administrator of the organization.

Specific Safety Programs — Those safety programs that are required by law (applicable OSHA requirements, fire codes, and state departments of health) or required by the safety committee in response to high accident frequency or potential at the nonprofit.
Specific safety programs include:

Back Injury Prevention
Bloodborne Pathogen
Fire evacuation
Hazard Communication
Fleet safety (transportation)
Emergency response
Accident Investigation

Workplace safety programs should be included in the organization's safety manual. Individual components, such as floor-by-floor fire-evacuation plans, should be posted. The programs should be reviewed and updated at least annually to ensure quality, effectiveness and compliance with all applicable codes.