All about the Health and Safety Committee

http://www.dole.gov.ph

A Health and Safety Committee is a group of employees or workers and management that plans and makes policies in all matters pertaining to safety and health in the workplace. All establishments are required to have a Health and Safety Committee.

When shall an establishment organize a Health and Safety Committee?

In every workplace, a Health and Safety Committee shall be organized within sixty days after the Standards take effect, and for new establishments, within one month from the date business starts operating. In both cases the Health and Safety Committee shall reorganize every January of the following year.

What are the duties of the Health and Safety Committee?

The Health and Safety Committee shall:

• Plan and develop accident prevention programs in the workplace;
• Inspect workplace to detect unsafe conditions;
• Review reports of inspection, results of accident investigations and implementation of accident prevention program;
• Conduct safety meetings at least once a month;
• Submit report to the manager/owner on its meetings and activities;
• Provide necessary assistance to government inspecting authorities in the proper conduct of activities relating to enforcement of the provisions of the Standards;
• Train workers in safe work habits and procedures;
• Develop and maintain a disaster contingency plan and organize such emergency service units as may be necessary to handle disaster situations pursuant to the Emergency Preparedness Manual for Establishments of the Office of Civil Defense.

If you want to learn more about your rights, duties, and benefits as a working citizen, government institutions such as the Department of Labor and Employment will have their own information booth at the Career and Education Fair 2006 on May 3-4 at the World Trade Center. Click here for details.