Safety Committees
Safety committees are an integral part of the Environment, Safety, Health & Quality (ESH&Q) programs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). They serve a variety of purposes including:
- Obtaining employee involvement
- Providing independent oversight
- Recommending program improvement.
Safety committees operate at various levels within the Laboratory.
- Lab-level safety committees
- Management System safety committees
- Building-specific safety committees
- Ad-hoc safety committees
The attached table provides a list of existing committees, a brief description, frequency of meetings, driver for the committee, links to the charters, and a summary of numbers of staff from each Directorate serving on the committees.
PNNL Safety Committees
PNNL Directorate Zero Accidents Councils
The DZAC forums are used to discuss health and safety goals and objectives, share Lessons Learned, track resolution of safety issues and concerns, communicate accident/event experiences, evaluate workplace accident and illness prevention program effectiveness, and make suggestions for improvement; they provide a communication vehicle for relaying information to Lab staff. The DZAC provides staff with representation and participation in the health and safety program. Council membership draws from interested volunteers withinthe various directorate divisions, at a level deemed appropriate by the Division Directors. Other participants represent EHS&S, VPP Steering Committee, and others who bring value through their expertise. If you would like more information about your directorate’s DZAC or are interested in participating, please feel free to contact the following representatives:
- NSD – chaired by Larry Cassaza
- EMSL – chaired by Joy Rosscup
- FCSD – chaired by Rich Johanson
- EED – chaired by Rob Cuello
- OSD – chaired by Scott Allen
- BSD/ODS – chaired by Kala Suhadolnik.
Hierarchy of Current Safety Committees and their Functions
PNNL safety committees are chartered by management, with specific roles, responsibilities, accountabilities, and authorities delineated in the charter. Safety committees function and take action within the context of PNNL´s business model.
- A safety committee is chartered by the manager or group of managers with authority over a particular ES&H-related area. Safety committee charters typically contain the elements outlined in
Safety Committee Charter Elements. - Staff members (and others if appropriate) are recruited by the chartering authority or by a committee chair to serve on the safety committee. Staff member participation on a safety committee must be supported by the staff member’s immediate manager.
- The safety committee operates in accordance with the safety committee charter.
- The safety committee and/or chartering authority periodically reviews the charter and continuing need for the safety committee.
See the Life Cycle of a Typical Safety Committee.
Safety Committee Training - Best Practice
Are you a member of a safety committee or do you chair one? Perhaps you are part of a management system that charters or supports a safety committee. If you are involved with a safety committee, consider whether training for the members could help it succeed. Read this Best Practice article on thoughts to help your safety committee flourish.