Safety Committee Requirements

It is the intent of the department that employer and employees meet together for the purpose of creating a safety culture in Montana workplaces and reducing on-the-job injuries and illnesses, in the hope that by improving occupational safety, workers compensation insurance rates for all industries in Montana will be reduced. Therefore, all employers with more than five employees are required to have a safety committee. The requirements, numbered and in bold print, are followed by department recommendations.

EVERY SAFETY COMMITTEE SHALL:

Be composed of employee and employer representatives and hold regularly scheduled meetings, at least once every four months.
RECOMMENDATIONS: The safety committee should:

Be of sufficient size and number to provide for effective representation of the workforce
Have more than one safety committee for employers with multiple sites

Include in its employee membership volunteers or members elected by their peers.

Include safety committee activities that assist the employer in fact finding.
RECOMMENDATIONS: The department recommends that the committee document its activities and act as a fact finding body and report to the employer regarding:

Assessing and controlling hazards
Assessing safety training and awareness topics
Communication with employees regarding safety committee activities
Developing safety rules, policies and procedures
Educating employees on safety related topics
Evaluating the safety program on a regular basis
Inspecting the workplace
Keeping job specific training current
Motivating employees to create a safety culture in the workplace
Reviewing incidents of workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses

Safety Meeting Topic Ideas