Safety and health committees and representatives clearly play a significant role in our workplaces. But have you ever considered elevating your committee’s presence and becoming more active in promoting safety and health? This is also an important part of your role.
As a committee member, one of your duties according to The Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act) Part 40 (10) (f) is “the development and promotion of programs for education and information concerning safety and health in the workplace.”
Committee members can be the eyes and ears of the organization’s safety and health program. Understanding the current landscape and trending topics in your industry can help the committee target ideas when promoting safety and health.
During inspections, chat with employees about safety and health. If you notice something being done well, don’t hesitate to give a compliment – a little positive reinforcement can provide motivation and enhance the culture of safety in a workplace.
The committee can serve as an example by leading stretch breaks or taking other measures that prevent and reduce injuries. The committee member plays an important role in sharing information. Just keep in mind that your approach is key.
In recent times, virtual options have moved to the forefront. Email blasts, videos and virtual presentations are often successful when it comes to communicating safety and health initiatives. But there are many more ideas to be considered when the timing is right for your workplace, such as:
To understand how best to communicate a safety and health initiative, consider asking workers or provide a suggestion box. Some committees use a survey or ask for feedback through a general committee email.
Figuring out how to communicate is important, but so is timing and implementation. Understanding your audience is also key. Do they respond better using virtual methods or in-person methods? Do they want to read material themselves or hear it from someone else?
Make sure information is in plain language that everyone can understand. This might include the use of pictures and videos, as well as resource material in additional languages.
Survey the workforce to understand how they would most like to see safety and health initiatives promoted.
This is a topic that everyone wants to know and understand. Promoting safety and health is more than just developing a resource. It’s about evaluating what workers are being trained on, reviewing stats to see where the most injuries occur, preventing injury and illness and building safety and health promotion.
The committee can review safe work procedures and determine if they are being followed. If they are not, explore the reason why and update or retrain as necessary.
The committee can take steps to ensure workers understand the job and provide guidance if they spot potential harms.
If there are outstanding concerns or issues that committee members are unable to resolve, they should make a recommendation to the employer.
Safety and health must be on the agenda every minute of every day. A safe and healthy workplace is one that has a culture of safety and health – it’s just how they do business.
However, you might want to bring special attention to safety and health at certain times. For example, when Safety and Health Week is occurring soon. Every year, the first week of May is dedicated to reinforcing safety and health, and bringing greater attention to ensuring that every worker returns home safe and healthy at the end of their work day.
While Safety and Health Week is important, there are other designated weeks and months that the committee could promote alongside the usual safety and health topics.
For example, Mental Health Week usually takes place during the first week of May, close to Safety and Health Week. Consider bringing attention to this equally important topic.
Other Canadian safety and health initiatives that a committee can help to promote include:
In addition to the promotion ideas in this Safety Swap, check out the following:
As always, you can contact SAFE Work Manitoba for information or reach out to your industry-based safety program for ideas geared to your industry.
If you would like to share your best practices with other safety and health committee leaders, we’d like to hear from you. Your idea might be featured in an upcoming issue of Safety Swap! Email us: information@safeworkmanitoba.ca for more information.
The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba serves workers and employers through a no-fault insurance system integral to the Manitoba economy. Funded collectively by employers, the WCB promotes safe and healthy workplaces, facilitates recovery and return to work, delivers compassionate and supportive compensation services to workers and employers, and ensures responsible stewardship of Manitoba's workers' compensation system.
