Workplace Safety

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What is the Workplace Safety Committee?

The Bethlehem Area School District is pleased to announce the formation of a new District Workplace Safety Committee. As signed by Governor Rendell, the new state fiscal code contains language which requires all Pennsylvania school districts to form and maintain certified safety committees.

A safety committee is a key element to achieving continuous improvement in a safety process. The purpose of a safety committee is to regularly bring workers and management together in a non-adversarial, cooperative effort to promote safety and health in the workplace. The committee's primary focus is to detect and correct workplace hazards. The effective benefits of having a safety committee include a reduction in the number of workplace injuries and illnesses, a reduction in the hidden costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses, and an increase in employee safety awareness in the workplace.

The initial organizational meeting was conducted on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. As required by law, all employee groups within our district are represented on the committee along with management representatives. The committee will also meet monthly to conduct its business. The committee's December meeting was devoted to the development of committee bylaws and to formulate a vehicle to provide all employees a means to identify and report safety and health concerns.

Mission Statement

Purpose

The purpose of the Bethlehem Area School District Safety Committee (the committee) is to promote a safe and healthy working environment for each employee by creating and maintaining an active interest in safety by each employee and to assist in the overall effort to minimize the frequency of accidents in the workplace.

Goal

The goal of the Bethlehem Area School District Safety Committee is to eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses by involving employees and managers in identifying hazards and suggesting how to prevent them.

Objectives

The Bethlehem Area School District Safety Committee has five major objectives:

1. Involve employees in achieving a safe and healthy workplace;
2. Promptly review all safety-related incidents, injuries, accidents, and near misses;
3. Conduct ongoing workplace inspections as needed;
4. Monitor accident/incident trends and plan prevention;
5. Annually evaluate the Bethlehem Area School District safety program and recommend improvements to management.