Training Module 1The Role and Purpose of the Health and

Safety Committee27/1/2016 ILRI NAIROBI

The role defines a characteristic andexpected social behavior

It also defines a position or title

We are all consultants. We should do thingsthat allow people to trust us.

We are not cops Employees will seek our help when we are

trustworthy and observe the rules ourselves.

1. Survey and interview employees to find outwhat they are thinking and feeling

2. Observe employees to analyze behavior3. Inspect the workplace to uncover hazardous

conditions4. Audit safety programs5. Uncover the surface and root causes of safety

problems6. Develop and submit written recommendations7. Monitor the progress of corrective actions and

system improvements8. Evaluate the long-term quality of the safety

culture

We do not control the safety program.Management does.

Our main role is to act as consultants.(Thesame way EOHS does)

Role Conflict If you are a member of your company safety team AND a

supervisor, how do you discipline your employees for unsafebehavior? Let's take a look at a scenario below to set the scene.

Scenario Larry is an important member of his company's safety team.

However, he is a supervisor as well. During his workday, henotices one of his subordinates is not wearing the properpersonal protective equipment (PPE). Larry wants to correct theunsafe behavior; however, he is unsure how to find the balanceof helping the safety cause at work and actually enforcing it.Since he is a line supervior, should he discipline the workers orshould he actually refrain from discipline because he is a safetyteam member?

This is a good question and his response as both a supervisor andsafety committee member depends on the role he is playing atthe time.

If you're conducting a safety inspection as a member of the safetycommittee and see your employee failing to use PPE, you should let him orher know the role you're playing and ask another inspection team memberto interview the employee in private to determine surface/root causes forthe behavior.

Here are some sample questions you may ask:

Are you receiving proper supervision?

Have you been trained on how to use PPE?

Do you believe that you'll be disciplined is "caught" violating safetyrules?

Is the PPE you're supposed to use suitable?

Are you physically able to use the PPE?

Do you think your supervisor believes working fast is more importantthan working safe?

You should remind the employee to use PPE, and youwould enter the observation/behavior (not the employee’sname) and interview responses into the safety inspectionreport.

The information gathered in the interview would beanalyzed to determine root causes (system weaknesses).

Even though you are the employee's supervisor, you wouldnot discipline the employee because you're not acting as theemployee's supervisor during the inspection.

Yes, if you think it's best, you might ask someone else toconduct the inspection in your department as there might bea role conflict. It also assures someone else is observing inyour department.

If you are performing a safety inspection as the employee’ssupervisor, and you see the same failure to use PPE, yourresponse would be that as the supervisor.

Before considering any discipline, you would first determineif you have fulfilled your supervisory obligations (Supervision,Training, Accountability, Resources, Support) to the employee.

If you have, some form of progressive discipline might bethe proper action. However, if you have not met yourobligations, touch-caring leadership would require that youapologize to the employee and make a commitment to gethim or her what’s needed to perform safely.

It refers to a desired effect.What the desired outcome is.What is your definition of your purpose?

Help to protect the employer by providinguseful information

Help to protect the employee by respondingto safety concerns

Bring staff & management together in acooperative way to solve problems

Help the employer educate and motivate allemployees about the importance of safety

Help the employer educate and motivate allsupervisors and managers to identify hazardsand take corrective actions