Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
SAFETY COMMITTEE
This module forms part of an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) kit devleoped by the
Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), Ministry of Labour and
Employment, Government of Bangladesh
This booklet (Safety Committee) is not a substitute of
Bangladesh Labour Act 2013 (BLA 2013). Establishing
Safety Committee is made mandatory according to BLA
2013 and Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015 (BLR 2015) has
been adopted to implement the law. Every factory will have
to form safety committee following the rules set in the BLR
2015.
This booklet has been developed to assist in setting-up Safety
Committee (easy set-up guide). This booklet will provide
answers on, who can be a safety committee members,
how to prepare agenda, how to prepare meeting minutes
and develop plan and way to submit recommendation to
the management, aimed at supporting the implementation
process.
This Safety Committee book is intended to awareness
raising among workers and employers about their roles
and responsibilities according to the law and to support
the process. This booklet should not be considered as an
alternative to BLR and BLA under any circumstances and
the rules set forth in the law should be followed.
What is a Safety Committee?
A Safety Committee is a team
composed of management and
union / workers representatives
that assists the employer in
creating and maintaining a safe
workplace.
You will find information - what support is needed from These include forms to list
top management? committee members, a sample
in this brochure on the
chart to inform workers about the
following questions: - what is the structure of the
Committee, samples of minutes of
Committee (specific tasks of
- why establish a Safety meetings, improvement plans etc.
President, Vice President &
Committee?
Secretary etc)?
- how to set it up?
The brochure also provides
- what are the activities of the useful working documents for the
Committee? Safety committee in the annexes.
Many factories may already have provides advice on OSH issues collaboration of the workers
an OSH/Safety Officer and might and their adherence to safety
- Group decisions have the
wonder why they are required by instructions; respect for
advantage of making use
law to set up a Safety Committee company OSH procedures
of the group’s wider field of
as well. can be improved by letting
experience; workers are in
workers representatives
- The Safety Committee daily contact with machines,
participate in their drafting
supports the OSH/Safety know the risks and can provide
and implementation
Officer and top management valuable input about hazards
to perform several OSH tasks and their remediation - Regular meetings at a proper
such as regular monitoring of location ensure good and
- Success in achieving a safe
safety conditions and provision regular communication on
workplace depends on the
of training; the Committee also OSH
Safety Committee n 1
- The establishment of a
Safety Committee is one
of a number of actions to
manage health and safety in
the workplace, i.e. to reduce
the number of accidents,
reduce absenteeism, prevent
negative legal or financial
consequences of accidents,
and to avoid damage to
company reputation (For more
information see the brochure
on Management of Health &
Safety in the Workplace).
50% of the members of the total number of members shall
Maximal
not be less than 6 or more than Total Number
Committee are from the union/ size of the
12. of workers
worker representative side Committee
and the other 50% from the Below 500 6
If the employer has several
management side.81 (2) BLR
production sites, it is From 501 to 1000 8
Sections 81 (7)BLR sets recommended to establish From 1001 to 3000 10
the maximum size of the one Safety Committee at each From 3001 and
production site; it is mandatory 12
Committee depending on the above
total number of workers. The when the production sites are in
different Upazillas (81 (1) BLR).
2 n Safety Committee
welfare officer, headsof
department, supervisors,
3) If there is no union in the factory, the worker representatives on
physician, nurse.
the Participation Committee appoint the workers representatives to
the Safety Committee. Good choices include persons with strong To ensure the efficient work
commitment to OSH, experience in the factory, training on OSH, of the Safety Committee,
good communication skills, and those from the various sections/ it is recommended that a
floors/units of the factory. senior managerwith power to
make decisions is appointed
A verification of the nomination results must be conducted. In all
as a member. It is also
establishments where at least one third of the workers are women
recommended to take gender
at least one third of the nominated worker representatives must be
aspects into account.
women (81 (13) BLR).
· JULY ·
within 15 days after both (81 (1)
sides have nominated their BLR)
representatives. S M T W T F S In factories existing
15 March
1 2 on 15 September
- In case of delay in setting up 2016
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2015
the Committee, any party can 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Factories set up 9 months
ask the Inspection for support 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
after
(see Brochure “Raising and
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 after 15 September
production
31
2015 started
solving issues in OSH”) 81 (10
& 11) BLR. The first meeting is convened within
15 days after both sides have
nominated their representatives.
Informing the workforce and the Inspector General
Safety Committee n 3
What is the duration of The Committee is established for how the Safety Committee is
the Committee? What a period of two years from the required to be reformed in case
date of its first meeting (83 BLR). a trade union or Participation
happens in a union or
See Annex 7 on the procedure Committee is setup in a company
Participation Committee is to replace a member in case during the two-year period.
set up in the factory? of resignation or death of the
member. Annex 7 also describes
Participate in the development,
implementation and monitoring
of the company health and
safety policy and procedures
(Schedule IV (2 a) BLR)
Regularly conduct
comprehensive risk
assessments using a checklist,
including development of
remediation proposals(see
Brochure on risk assessment)
4 n Safety Committee
Maintain up to date copies of
the acts, implementation rules,
building codes and circulars
related to fire safety and OSH
An improvement plan is a key plan to solve the non-conformity of the committee are made by
tool for the factory as well as is described in one column and a majority decision between
for the Safety Committee to the progress in solving the issue the members. Sometimes
keep track of the issues raised is noted in another column. The the management members in
by government inspections, use of an improvement plan the committee do not have
company risk assessments, makes sure that the progress is the authority to approve a
buyer audits or other compliance systematically recorded (For more committee decision (e.g. if the
assessments. Each issue should details see Annex 4). recommendation is particularly
be inserted in the plan. Issues important or expensive).
In addition to an improvement
raised by workers should also be Then a recommendation to
plan, the Safety Committee can
inserted in the plan if they could top management is needed.
make formal recommendations
not be solved directly by the The top management is
to top management using a
supervisor. For each issue, the required to comply with the
separate form. The decisions
Safety Committee n 5
recommendation of the Safety in case top management has not case it is not satisfied with the
Committee(Schedule IV 12 BLR). taken action seven days from response(For more details see
The committee members may receiving a recommendation Annex 5; Schedule IV 1 (c), 11
inform the Labour Inspectorate from the Safety Committee, or in (c)&12 BLR).
Issue date: 22 November 2012 Latest update date: 29 May 2013 Prepared by:
1 Chemical s used 1. Post proper label on all Ms Hang Mr Tan Jan 13 Mai 13 Task done
in the factory chemical containers. The (do) All planned action have been
properly labeled label should include Bangalee Mr Tung taken.
( i.e. Sodium name of chemical and
Mr Chien The leaders of sections
Hydroxide- the corresponding hazard
(check) where chemicals are used
NaOHis contained pictograms.
(clearing room, washing,
in a Nitric Acid
2. Assign clearly responsibility for printing and M&E are
container). In
this task assigned to fully label all
addition, many
chemicals containers in their
chemical labels 3. Review the MSDS to know
sections.
were written in a which pictograms are needed
In addition, the DSH Officer
foreign language. 4. Make MSDS available in the
checks weekly the chemicals
workplace (not just in the office)
labeling
There are some Keep chemical MSDS for all Ms Hang Mr Tan Jun 13 Mai 13 Task done
2 missing MSDS hazardous chemicals used in the (do) All planned action have been
such as for workplace Mr Tung taken.
H2SO4 in the 1. List all chemicals used in the Mr Chien
ME (mechanic & factory in an inventory
(check)
Electricity) store.
2. Review MSDS from supplier
All the first-aid 1. Every section in the workplace Ms Yen Ms Nihan Jun 13 In progress The nurse
boxes seen by should have a first aid box; Ms Anh The factory has made a will be
3
assessors in the Have first aid boxes in multiple Mr Tan reminder about the use of con-
factory were Mr Thi
location in large sections the first aid box through ducting
found to be nearly loudspeakers. This messege
2. Equip first aid box daily -
emptly, with some has been repeated by the
weekly
containing only 3. Define responsibilities for leaders of sections.
checks and
antiseptic fluid. refilling and for checking Failure to comply with this provide full
requirement will be subject supplies for
to all first aid
boxes.
6 n Safety Committee
The improvement plan is a key makes sure that the progress is important or expensive). Then
tool for the factory as well as systematically recorded (For more a recommendation to Top
for the Safety Committee to details see Annex 4) Management is needed. The
keep track of the issues raised Top management is required to
In addition to the improvement
by government inspection, by comply with the recommendation
plan, the Safety committee can
company risk assessment or by of the Safety Committee
make formal recommendations
a buyer audit. Each issue should (Schedule IV 12 BLR). The
to the Top management using
be inserted in the plan. Issues Committee members need to
a separate form. The decisions
raised by workers should also be inform the Labour Inspector
of the committee are made
inserted in the plan in case they in case Top management has
by consensus or by majority
could not be solved directly by not taken actions 7 days after
decision between the members.
the supervisor. For each issue, the receiving a recommendation
Sometimes the management
plan to solve the non-conformity from the Safety Committee, or in
members in the committee do
is described in one column; the case it is not satisfied with the
not have the authority to approve
progress in solving the issue is response (For more details see
the committee decision (e.g. the
noted in another column. The Annex 5; Schedule IV 1 (c), 11
recommendation is particularly
use of the improvement plan (c) & 12 BLR)
1 2 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
n See Annex 2 for a list of 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
typical topics covered by 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
meetings
Safety Committee n 7
Support from top management
In practice, there are cases where - The time spent on committee Committee is taken into
the Safety Committee does not tasks is counted as working time consideration during performance
have meetings, members do and workers do not lose revenue appraisal/promotion
not participate regularly or are due to their committee activities
- The union/worker representatives
not motivated. To prevent this, (even in a piece rate remuneration
on the committee are protected
management has to take the system)
against retaliation for their
following actions:
- The president and vice president actions, decisions and opinions
- The members must be provided have regular access to the taken in connection with their
enough time to attend meetings top management to discuss membership on the Safety
(announcement in advance, committee recommendations Committee, including for example
supervisors informed etc); a informing the Labour Inspectorate
- The committee receives
minimum quorum of half the about OSH issues in the factory,
administrative support when
members from each side is or requesting to stop work in case
necessary (e.g. printing
recommended of immediate and serious danger
documents)
(Schedule IV 11& 12 BLR).
- The members should receive
- Members have access to every
time off during working hours
workplace in the factory during
in addition to the time off for
and outside working hours
meetings to work on their safety
tasks and prepare for the meeting - Participation in the Safety
8 n Safety Committee
5) Training for Safety Committee members
Without proper training, This training can be done about the latest changes in
the members will not be in internally in case the OSH/ legislation and company OSH
a position to conduct their Safety Officer has the required regulation.
tasks. All committee members know how. There are also various
The employer has to make the
need to be trained on the external providers for such
necessary arrangements for
tasks and procedures of the courses. Check also the other
training: providing paid time off
Safety Committee, on hazard publications available in this
during working hours for training
identification, accident series. The OSH/Safety Officer
participants, training room and
investigation, raising and solving has also to make sure that the
covering all expenses (Schedule
OSH issues, etc. Committee members are informed
IV 11 & 13 BLR).
Safety Committee n 9
6. Structure of the committee and specific tasks
(81 (3-6) BLR)
- Make sure members are able to - Report regularly to top from the Safety Committee
attend management (Schedule IV 11 cBLR )
- Preside over and conduct the - Inform the Labour Inspectorate The committee can agree on
meeting in case management has not different tasks.
- Review and approve the taken action seven days after
minutes receiving a recommendation
Safety Committee
10 n Safety Committee
- Recording minutes of the committee meeting agenda • Raising and solving
meeting (Schedule IV (3) BLR; OSH issues
- Explain causes of problems
see Annex 3) • Risk assessment
- Give suggestions and opinions
- Distributing and posting the • Managing safety and
on possible solutions
minutes of the meeting health in the workplace
- Give opinions whether a
- Maintaining committee
previous problem has been
documentation
solved Disclaimer
The secretary is elected by the
- Members of the Safety This resource has been
Safety Committee members in the
Committee can also raise risks prepared to help employers and
first meeting of the Committee
identified and instances of non- workers understand their rights
(81 (4) BLR).
compliance with legislation to and obligations under relevant
top management or the Labour legislation. It is not intended to
Tasks of other members of Inspectorate(BLA 315; BLR replace the law/rules and only
the committee Schedule IV 1 &11). the text of the legislation is
binding.
- Be in regular contact with For further information see
workers and report to the
- The Bangladesh Labour Act
Committee meeting concerns
Implementation Rules
received from them
- Publications in this series:
- Suggest items to include on the
Safety Committee n 11
Annexes
2. Agenda
3. Minutes of meeting
4. Improvement plan
6. One page information sheet to inform workers about the Safety Committee
For a sample Guideline for a Safety Committee see the publication in this series
Managing safety and health in the workplace
All documents in this annex can be found on the OSH KIT CD or downloaded from
the website of the Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments
www.dife.gov.bd/
12 n Safety Committee
Annex 1: List of committee members
Management representatives
No. of years
Mobile Additional
# Name M/F Position in factory Department Nationality Languages with the
phone information*
enterprise
Safety
1 Borhan Uddin M Factory Manager Management Bangladeshi Bangla 12 years 01711-141--- Committee
President
3 Hamida Begum F Nurse / Welfare Officer Welfare Bangladeshi Bangla 7 years 01711-141--- Member
Safety Committee n 13
Workers’/ union representatives
14 n Safety Committee
Line leader Union Safety Committee
5 Rahima Akhter F Sewing Y Shapla Union Bangladesh Bangla 12
sewing Vice-President Vice President
Union Executive
6 Mostofa Alam M Worker Cutting Y Shapla Union committee Bangladesh Bangla 8 Member
member
7 Nehar Sultana F Worker Packing Y Shapla Union Union Member Bangladesh Bangla 6 Member
8 SumonaHoque F Worker Ironing Y Shapla Union Union Member Bangladesh Bangla 7 Member
* Function in the committee (Vice President, Secretary), memberships in other committees etc.
Members who have left the Committee during the Committee Period
General principles n Concerns raised by workers (each plan, annual plan for information
(Schedule IV (3) BLR) committee member is a channel campaigns)
which workers, union and
- Preparing an agenda is an n Upcoming training and
workers representatives can use
important point for an efficient information campaigns
to communicate their concerns
meeting n
on OSH issues) Results of risk assessments/daily
- The president and vice president weekly checks conducted by
n Some specific priority issues for
prepare the agenda (81 (11) BLR) members
which an action plan needs to be
- It is based on consultation and developed (the issue might come n Results of workplace inspections
inputs from committee members from a government inspection, conducted by public authorities
a company risk assessment,
- It is distributed at least five n Results of accident investigations
a management decision, a
days in advance to all members conducted by members
buyer audit, other compliance
(recommendation) n
assessment etc) OSH performance of the
- It should not include too company/analysis of statistics on
n Follow up of the
many agenda items, generally accidents and absenteeism
recommendations submitted
only issues which affect the n
to top management at the last Changes in the composition of
organisation as a whole (issues
meeting the committee
which are relevant to only a few
members are better discussed in n Implementation of company The decisions of the committee
a smaller group). OSH policy and procedures/ are made by consensus or by
development of a new procedure majority decision between the
Possible agenda topics: members (Schedule IV (12) BLR).
n Development and
n OSH observations in the implementation of OSH annual
workplace made by the members work plan (incl. annual training
Safety Committee n 15
Annex 3: Minutes
a) General principles
16 n Safety Committee
Agenda Item Discussion Decisiozn/Action
1. Welcome, approval
of the agenda of the Approved without change
current meeting
3. Update on the
implementation
The top management has purchased Safety Officer will update the
of the OSH
smoke detectors according to the proposal description of progress in the
Improvement plan /
submitted. OSH improvement plan
recommendations of
the committee
Mr Tariq has left the company. He was the - Safety officer will update the
warden for the emergency evacuation team of evacuation team list
sewing line 11. MsAkter is wondering whether
the replacement has been appointed and
5. Suggestions received properly informed about his/her responsibility. - Safety officer will conduct
from workers / training for the new member
observations made
Blocked emergency exits in packing
section:the Safety Committee discussed the - Safety officer will update the
root cause and developed an action plan (see description of action needed in
attached). the OSH improvement plan
Safety Committee n 17
The committee decided to add
training for supervisors in the
During daily weekly checks, the OSH / safety
plan to remind them about their
7. Review of the annual officer observes regularly that the emergency
responsibility to check their area,
training plan exits pathways are obstructed. The committee
and ensure in particular that
discussed the issue.
goods do not obstruct emergency
exits.
Minutes approved
______________________________ ___________________________________
President of the Safety Committee Vice President of the Safety Committee
Annexes
- Updated OSH improvement plan of the factory
- Action plan on machine guards
- Action plan to prevent emergency exits obstruction
- Action plan on emergency exits signalization
- Table summarizing division of tasks for the Risk assessment
An improvement plan is a key tool for the factory as well as the Safety Committee to keep track of the issues
raised by government inspections, company risk assessments, buyer audits or other compliance assessments.
Each issue should be inserted in the plan. Issues raised by workers should also be inserted in the plan, in
case they could not be solved directly by the supervisor. For each issue, the plan to solve the non-conformity is
described in one column; persons in charge and deadlines are entered into the other columns.
A draft of the plan is often given by auditors, or developed by the safety officer, but it is re-discussed and
finalized at a Safety Committee meeting (decision by majority as per Schedule IV 12 BLR).
The progress in solving any issue is noted in another column. The progress in solving a specific issue can be
discussed at the Safety Committee meeting, and additional actions can be planned based on the discussion.
The use of the improvement plan makes sure that the progress is systematically recorded.
18 n Safety Committee
OSH Improvement Plan
Enterprise name: Zaman Garments, Ltd.
Issue date: 22 November 2015 Latest update date: 24 April 2016 Prepared by: Masum Ul Alam
Keep chemical MSDS for all Masum Nehar End End Task completed
hazardous chemicals used in the Ul Alam Sultana January, January, All planned actions
workplace (Do) Tariq 2016 2016 have been taken
There are some missing 1. List all chemicals used in the (Compliance
MSDS such as for factory in an inventory officer)
H2SO4 in the mechanic (check)
2. Receive MSDS from supplier
2 store.
3. Translate in local language (if
(Source: buyer audit
needed)
report 16 December
2015) 4. Make MSDS available in the
workplace (not just in the
office)
Safety Committee n 19
Compliance Point / Area Target Actual
SL Lead Additional Key work
of improvement (incl Description of actions needed completion completion Progress
No. person persons ahead
source) date date
The workplace did not
have adequate fire
20 n Safety Committee
detection system. The 1. Purchase fire detectors
Task completed
warehouse was not 2. Ensure regular maintenance Borhan End
equipped with smoke Uddin All planned actions
3. Conduct regular checks to make Masum Ul January,
3 detectors. have been taken
sure that the equipment is in place Alam (do) Urgent
(Source: buyer audit /functioning Tariq issue
report 16 December
2015)
In progress
The employer did not 1. Record accidents
keep updated records of The nurse is keepingThe OSH
2. Investigate accidents and develop
work-related accidents Masum Ul a record of injured / Safety
corresponding remediation plan
and diseases Borhan Alam End June workers in the firstOfficer
5 3. Prepare investigation report aid room
Uddin Hamida 2016 checks
(Source: Self-assessment
4. Prepare statistics about accidents Begum No recent accidents weekly the
4 April 2016)
and use them to develop the reported chemicals
factory OSH programme labeling
Compliance Point / Area Target Actual
SL Lead Additional Key work
of improvement (incl Description of actions needed completion completion Progress
No. person persons ahead
source) date date
1. Every section in the workplace In progress
should have a first aid box. Have The factory has carried
first aid boxes in multiple locations out actions 1 to 3
All the first-aid boxes
seen by assessors in the in large sections. The OSH / safety officer The nurse
factory were found to be 2. Equip first aid box has made a reminder will be
about the use of the conducting
nearly empty, with some 3. Define responsibilities for refilling
first aid box through daily-
containing only antiseptic and for checking Hamida loudspeakers. This weekly
6 fluid. End Mai
4. Ensure first-aid boxes to be always Begum message has been checks and
(Source: Self-assessment accessible to workers (e.g. at least repeated by the leaders providing
4 April 2016) two persons trained in first aid of sections. full
have the key and their pictures is Failure to comply with supplies
this requirement will be for all first-
next to the first aid box)
subject to disciplinary aid boxes.
5. Conduct regular checks action
Safety Committee n 21
Annex 5: Formal recommendation
To:
Copy:
OSH Issue:
Cause analysis:
Supporting Documentation:
22 n Safety Committee
Cost estimate:
Supporting Documentation:
Comment:
Approved
Rejected for the following reason:
Approved with the following
Interim response:
modification:
Safety Committee n 23
Annex 6: One page information sheet to inform workers about the Safety
Committee
This note is to inform you identify OSH hazards (such as and serious hazard contact
that we have set up a “Safety uncovered electrical wires, high immediately a member of the
Committee” in the company. noise levels etc) and recommend committee or your supervisor.
The list of members is attached corrective actions.
The members of the Safety
below.
Do not hesitate to ask questions Committee will also organise
The Safety Committee is a team to the members of the Safety training for various groups of
composed of management and Committee and mention to them workers in the factory.
union/worker representatives hazards you have identified in
The committee is meeting at
that assists the employer in your workplace. The committee
least once every three months.
creating and maintaining a safe members can help you to assess
The minutes of the meeting
workplace. the hazards and solve them.
will be posted regularly on the
The members will conduct In particular, if you think you information board.
regular visits of the workplace to are exposed to an immediate
2AHIMA!KHTER
#OMMITTEE
6ICE0RESIDENT
.EHAR3ULTANA
5NION
"ORHAN5DDIN 2EPRESENTATIVE
&ACTORY-ANAGER
#OMMITTEE
0RESIDENT
3UMONA(OQUE
5NION
2EPRESENTATIVE
-ASUM5L!LAM
3AFETY/FFICER
3ECRETARY
-OSTOFA!LAM
5NION
(AMIDA"EGUM 2EPRESENTATIVE
.URSE
7ELFARE/FFICER
3ABRINA+HATUN
(2-ANAGER
24 n Safety Committee
Annex 7: Changes in the factory during the two-year period of the committee
Safety Committee n 25
Department of Inspection for Factories
and Establishments (DIFE)
This publication was produced with the support of the ILO’s Improving Working Conditions
in the RMG sector programme funded by Canada, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom