Health/Safety Compliance: Health and Safety Committees

Health/Safety compliance: Health and Safety Committees should be established, by an employer, in workplace as soon as the number of health and safety representatives becomes two or more. He can establish one or more of such health and safety committees. Health and Safety Committees place a significant role in initiating, developing, promoting, maintaining and reviewing measures in the health and safety fields.

Legal standards with regards to Health and Safety Committees:

• The number of members of Health and Safety Committees is determined by the employer from time to time.
• The employer is required by law to consult with this committee in all issues of health and safety.
• If one committee has been established all health and safety representatives must be part of the committee.
• Health and Safety Representatives must be properly Trained and Appointed.
• If two or more committees are established with respect to the workplace, each SHE Representative should be a member of at least one of the Health and Safety Committees
• The number of persons nominated by the employer to be part of the committee should not exceed those of health and safety representatives on that committee.
• Health and safety committees will hold meetings as often as necessary but at least once every three months at a time and place determined by the committee
• The proceedings of the meeting shall be determined by the committee
• Health and Safety Committees can co-opt one member based on the person's knowledge on health and safety matters to be an advisory member
• The chosen advisory member shall not vote on any matter in the committee
• If an inspector feels the established Health and Safety Committees are inadequate, he may direct the employer, in writing, to establish more committees

Functions of Health and Safety Committees

?� Make recommendation to the employer regarding health and safety issues affecting employees
?� If it fails with the employer, they can make the same recommendations to an inspector
?� Shall discuss incidents that have occurred in the workplace especially the ones with consequences such as injury, illness, death.
?� They will, in writing, report the matter to the inspector
?� Keep records of each recommendations made to the employer or inspector and any report made to the inspector
?� They can perform any other duties as prescribed in the health and safety field.

Employers have the duty to ensure that Health and Safety Committees perform their duties as prescribed about and they abide to the legal conditions stated in Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.
The importance of establishing such Health and Safety Committees is that it means that a company is compliant to the legal stipulations of the Act. It also means that health and safety issues are getting sufficient attention as they are discussed by a panel of various people who will share views and knowledge.

If you have no idea how to set up Health and Safety Committees and require additional information on legal procedures to follow with regards to such committees and many more, MAKROSAFE will assist you by signing up with The Health and Safety Risk Control Package. We have well knowledgeable consultancy who will assist you every step of the way.

To read all about The Health and Safety Risk Control Package, click on the image below:

Click on the image below to find a SafetyWallet Solution that suits your business (Branch/Site specific) and get the 21 benefits along with the subscription: