WORKPLACE SAFETY COMMITTEE

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

PA Training for Health & Safety
(PATHS)

Re-Certification Training

PPT-123-2016 1
 HandS Tech Manual

Sample Programs found on following pages:

Safety Committee Compliance Checklist 49

Sample Bylaws 51
Sample Safety Policy 54
Sample Meeting Agenda 55
Sample Meeting Minutes 56
Sample Training Documentation 57
Sample Incident Investigation Report 58-60
PPE Program Checklist 61-67
Workplace Inspection Checklist 68-74
Safety Orientation 75

PPT-123-2016 2
 Topics

Review the role and functionality of a safety

committee

Review basic hazard detection and inspection

methods

Review (and apply) basic incident investigation

techniques

Reiterate how drug & alcohol abuse/addiction

impacts the workplace

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Workplace Safety Committees

Role
and
Functionality

PPT-123-2016 4
 Safety Committee Purpose

• Hazard detection and prevention of workplace

incidents and illnesses
• Determine ways to involve employees in safety
• Generate ideas for improving safety & health
• Determine ways and generate
ideas to improve
employee/management relations
• Get employees interested in
safety

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 Safety Committee Function
• Must meet monthly with documented Agenda,
Quorum* achieved and Minutes which can include :
- Reviewing incident reports (injury, near miss, etc.)
- Reviewing current as well as developing new safe
work practices
- Recommending use of safety equipment/devices
- Reviewing safety training presented
- Suggesting new/revised safety training
- Reviewing safety inspections conducted and
following up on action/corrective items
- Discussing employee presented safety-related
issues
* Note: Quorum is ½ total membership number plus 1

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 Management’s Involvement

• Promote the Committee as well as their activities

on an individual basis or at group meetings
• Respond to recommendations in a timely manner
• Promote safety within every level of the organization

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 Employees’ Involvement

• Identify and report hazards and unsafe

acts/conditions
• Adhere to safe work practices/procedures
• Provide suggestions for improving workplace
safety
• Properly maintain Personal Protective Equipment
• Participate in Committee activities and
initiatives such as health fairs, safety contests, etc.

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 Committee Audits By L&I

• Random/Target Audits
• 30 day notification
• Opening conference
• Table top “on-site” audit
• Information verification
• Closing conference
◦ Issue Compliance/Non-compliance Rating
(Preliminary)
◦ Non-Compliance issues explained

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10 Reasons for Disapproval

Reasons why your program would be disapproved:

1. Inadequate or no training for committee

members

2. No meetings for time period reviewed

3. No meeting agendas

4. Incomplete training record requirements

5. Trainer qualifications unverified

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10 Reasons for Disapproval

6. No record of committee members’ training

7. All meetings did not have a quorum

8. Training not conducted

9. Members’ training not provided by persons

meeting Bureau requirements

10. Inspection reports not made part of committee

meeting minutes

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 Successful Safety Committees

• Hold regular meetings – consistent schedule

• Publicize accomplishments
• Set short term (1-6 months) and long term goals
• Address legitimate safety issues, no gripe sessions

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Successful Safety Committees

Tips:
 Meet the 2nd or 3rd week of the month. Avoid last
week due to holidays.

 Serve food: coffee/donuts in the morning; pizza

in the afternoon.

 Chairperson: sets agenda and conducts meeting;

members are assigned duties.

 Develop your own inspection checklist.

 Give “ownership” to the committee.

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 Committee Objectives

Objectives should be SMART:

 Specific
 Measurable
 Attainable
 Realistic, and
 Time-limited

Example: We will attempt to reduce fall injuries by

20% in the North parking lot between November
and February of this year.

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Workplace Safety Committees

Hazard Detection
and
Identification

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Purpose of Safety Inspections

• Identify and eliminate hazardous conditions so

they are corrected before an incident occurs

• Educate and motivate

employees on safety & health

• Involve employees in the

safety effort

• Identify safe practices, behaviors and conditions

• Identify areas for improving safety & health

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 What is a Hazard?

“An act or a condition in the workplace that has

the potential to cause injury, illness, or death to
a person and/or damage to company property,
equipment and materials.”

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 What to Look for

UNSAFE CONDITIONS: A condition in the work

place that is likely to cause property damage or
injury such as: defective tools, equipment, or
supplies, fire and explosion hazards and/or poor
housekeeping.

UNSAFE ACTS: Doing a task or other activity in a

manner that may threaten the health and/or safety
of workers such as : lack of or improper use of PPE,
using defective tools or equipment, or removing
safety guards.

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How to Conduct an Inspection

• Prepare the appropriate inspection checklist

• Bring all appropriate/required PPE
• Observe processes, equipment and locations
for unsafe acts and conditions
• Talk with employees in the area – listen to
their comments and concerns
• Use the checklist and take notes if necessary
• Report findings to all concerned – always
include management
• Follow-up for implementation

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 While Inspecting

 Speak with employees and supervisors in the

area. How do they think safety can be improved?
 Look at safety behavior and ask questions they
should recall from training.
 Ask employees to explain safe work procedures in
their area.
 Determine if safety recommendations made are
being implemented.
 If “Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health”
(IDLH) conditions exist take necessary action.

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 Is This a Hazard?

Absolutely!

Ladder
set up
against
wires

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 What About This?

Yes!

Access to fire
extinguisher is
blocked/obstructed;
unsafe combustible
storage practices;
broom handles could
fall on someone

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Is This a Safe Situation?

Stairs
No! damaged –
trip and
fall hazard

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Do you see any Problems?

Individual is lifting
heavy object over
her head; places
strain on arms,
shoulders, neck.
Due to height
could also drop
container on her
head.

PPT-123-2016 24
 Document the Inspection

Ensure that inspection results are in a written

format such as:

• Email……
• Checklists……….
• Memorandums……….
• Written inspection reports………..

Remember, many inspecting agencies feel that

“if it’s not in writing it didn’t happen!”
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Safety Inspection Checklist

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Workplace Safety Committees

Incident
Investigation
and
Reporting

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 Near Miss

Near Miss - an unplanned event that did not result in

injury, illness, or damage – but had the
potential to do so.

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Why Report A Near Miss?

• Allows the identification and control of hazards

before they cause serious incidents.
• Provides employees with information on what
not to do.
• Provides employees with an opportunity to
become involved in the overall safety program.
• Provides an opportunity for overall
improvement.
• Demonstrates management’s commitment to
the safety and health of all employees.

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 Reporting a Near Miss

• Employees should be encouraged to report

near misses and feel comfortable doing so.

• Employees should not fear being disciplined

or being criticized for reporting.

• The importance of reporting is encouraged by

the overall safety culture of the organization.

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Near Miss

Near misses also have

a cause and effect

What could be the

cause of this action
and what effect could
it have?

What changes could

be made?

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 Near Miss

What could be done to

prevent this situation
from becoming an
incident?

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 Near Miss Resolution

• Near miss incidents need to be resolved so that

future incidents do not occur.

• Employees need to see that near miss incidents

are investigated and acted upon to encourage
future reporting.

• After incidents are resolved relative information

should be communicated to employees.

PPT-123-2016 33
 Training for Employees

• Definition of a near miss and how to identify

• Why near misses should be reported

• How to report a near miss

• Who investigates

• What happens after the investigation

• How is resolution communicated

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Incident Investigation & Reporting

• What is an incident?

• What are the causes?

• How to investigate an incident?

• What to put in a report?

• What happens next?

PPT-123-2016 35
Incident Investigation & Reporting

What is an incident?

An unplanned event that results in personal injury or

damage to property/equipment/environment or an
event that has the potential to result in such
consequences.

Incidents should be reported as soon as

possible using the proper format!

PPT-123-2016 36
Incident Investigation & Reporting

What are the causes of an incident?

Two basic causes:

Unsafe Acts
and
Unsafe Conditions

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Unsafe Acts - Unsafe Conditions

Unsafe Acts Unsafe Conditions

• Unsafe Ladder Use • Wet Floors

• Using Unsafe Tools
• Improper Lifting
• Removing Safety Guards
• Speeding
• Overloading outlets
• Broken Stairs
• Damaged Ladders
• Unsafe Storage
• Cords Across Aisles
• Blocked Exit Doors

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Unsafe Act or Unsafe Condition?

Condition: Flammable &

liquid items stored on top
of electrical device

Act: Grinding near

compressed gas cylinders;
no eye protection

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Unsafe Act or Unsafe Condition?

Act: Repair
person has feet in
water while
working on
electrical box

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Unsafe Act or Unsafe Condition?

Condition:
Workers using
I Beam as
access to
work platform

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Unsafe Act or Unsafe Condition?

Condition:
Cluttered
walkway, trip
& fall hazard

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Unsafe Act or Unsafe Condition?

Act: Unsafe ladder

use; employee
standing on both
sides of step
ladder

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Unsafe Act or Unsafe Condition?

Condition: Excessive
combustibles; unsafe
storage; items too
close to ceiling

Act: Unsafe
lifting –
numerous
issues here!

PPT-123-2016 44
Incident Investigation

• Investigate all
reported incidents
causing injury,
damage or a “near
miss”
• Gather all facts
• Perform causal factor
analysis
• Provide corrective
actions & follow up

PPT-123-2016 45
Incident Investigation: 6 Steps

Some list 6 steps to an investigation:

1. Investigate

2. Identify direct and root causes

3. Disclose findings

4. Develop a corrective action plan

5. Implement the plan

6. Follow-up and revise as needed

PPT-123-2016 46
 Six Questions of Investigation

The questions provide an understanding of the

event:

1. Who was injured?

2. What happened?

3. Where did it occur?

4. When did it occur?

5. Why did it occur?

6. How did it occur?

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Who Should do the Investigation?

• First Line supervisor

• Safety Committee

• Safety Director/Safety Person

• All of the above

• A combination of the above

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Incident Investigation & Reporting

1. Provide emergency response

2. Survey & Secure the area/scene

3. Identify potential witnesses

4. Have necessary investigative tools

available (e.g. camera, flashlight, etc.)

5. Collect hard evidence and record data

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Incident Investigation & Reporting

6. Conduct interviews

7. Review Data

8. Conduct causal factor analysis

and determine corrective actions
9. Prepare an incident report
10. Follow up

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 Goal of the investigation

IS NOT TO:

• Absolve individuals, management, organization

• Satisfy regulatory requirements
• Provide a legal defense
• Find blame

The investigation is about fact finding not fault

finding – the objective is not to blame!

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 Photo or Video

What Do You Photograph or Videotape?

• Hazards, defects, issues

• Unsafe or unusual conditions
• Different conditions from what
victims or witnesses describe
• Areas, equipment or furniture
needing maintenance/repair
• Housekeeping issues

PPT-123-2016 52
Interviewing Victims & Witnesses

• Interview as soon as possible after the incident

• Do not interrupt medical care to interview
• Interview each person separately
• Do not allow witnesses to talk to one another prior
to interview

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 The Interview
• Put the person at ease
• People may be reluctant to discuss the incident
particularly if they think someone will get in
trouble
• Reassure them that this is a fact finding
process only
• Remind them these facts will be used
to prevent a recurrence of the incident

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 Typical Questions

 Involve specifics of witnesses and locations

 Determine what the injured person was doing

at the time of the incident

 Were proper tools, procedures and equipment

being used or did the victim use a “shortcut”
and not follow safe work practices

 Along with this, determine what temporary or

long-term “fixes” could have been implemented
to preclude the occurrence

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 The Interview

• Take notes!
• Do not make suggestions:
– If the person is stumbling over a
word or concept, do not help them out.
• Ask open ended questions:
– What did you see?
– What happened?

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 The Interview

• Summarize what you have been told

– Correct misunderstandings of the events
between you and the witness

• Ask the witness/victim for recommendations

to prevent recurrence
– Many times they will have the best solution
to the problem

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Incident Investigation & Reporting

WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN MY REPORT?

1. No opinions, just facts, including statements,

documents, photos, etc. that were obtained
during the investigation

2. Analysis of the cause

3. Corrective actions

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Incident Investigation & Reporting

What’s next?

FOLLOW UP!

Ensure recommended corrective

actions are being implemented.

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Incident Investigation - Summary

– Emergency Response
– Survey & Secure Area/Scene
– ID Witnesses
– Collect Evidence & Record
– Conduct Interviews
– Prepare a Report:
• Include Causes & Effects
• Include Corrective Actions
– Follow-up!
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 Causal Factor(s)

Causal factors to consider:

 Equipment

 Environment

 People

 Management

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 Root Cause(s)

The Root Cause is the initiating event. Take

that away and the sequence of events that
follows does not happen.

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Drug-Free Workplaces in PA

Employee
Substance
Abuse
Awareness &
Prevention
(ESAAP)

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The Cost of Substance Abuse

• Increased Health Care Costs

• Increased Workers’
Compensation Premiums

• Increased Workplace Violence

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 Substance Abuse

•An estimated 3.1 percent of employed

adults actually used illicit drugs before
reporting to work or during work hours
at least once in the past year, with about
2.9 percent working while under the
influence of an illicit drug.

•An estimated 1.8 percent of employed

adults consumed alcohol before coming
to work, and 7.1 percent drank alcohol
during the workday.

•An estimated 1.7 percent of employed

adults worked while under the influence
of alcohol, and 9.2 percent worked with
a hangover in the past year.

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 Drugs of Abuse

• Alcohol • Narcotics

• Marijuana • Hallucinogens

• Inhalants • Designer Drugs

• Stimulants • Over the counter

(OTC)
• Depressants

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Emotional Effects

• Aggression

• Burnout

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Paranoia

• Denial
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 Behavioral Effects

 Slow reaction time

 Impaired coordination
 Slowed or slurred speech
 Irritability
 Excessive talking
 Inability to sit still
 Limited attention span
 Poor motivation or lack of energy

PPT-123-2016 68
 Physical Effects

Common performance problems may

include:

 Poor attendance such as being late,

unexplained absences, long breaks or
lunches

 Complaints from co-workers,

contractors or customers

 A lot of mistakes

 Missed deadlines

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 Drug-Free Workplace Policy

Accomplishes two major things:

1. Informs employees that the use of

alcohol and drugs in the workplace
is prohibited and won’t be tolerated

2. Encourages employees who have

problems with substance abuse to
voluntarily seek help

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A Safer, Drug-Free Workplace

• Realize and understand the impact of alcohol and

drug abuse on the workplace

• Follow the Drug-Free Workplace Policy

• Be aware of the types of assistance available

• Visit www.samhsa.gov, the website for the

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), maintained by the US
Department of Health and Human Services

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 Contact Information

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

1171 South Cameron Street Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
717-772-1635
RA-LI-BWC-PATHS@pa.gov

http://www.dli.state.pa.us/PATHS

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 Bibliography

“The Accident Investigation,” Rick LeBlanc

http://www.accident-reconstruction.co/?p=74

http://likes.com/weird/the-15-most-common-
accidental-deaths

To download the Return to Work Manual, go to

http://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Compensation/workplace-comm-
safety/ReturnToWork/Documents/return-to-work_full_version.pdf
PPT-123-2016 73
Questions

PPT-123-2016 74