Employee Involvement - The second VPP tenet

General Industry

• An active and meaningful participation in safety and health problem identification and resolution.
• Notification of appropriate management of hazardous conditions and practices.
• Acceptable means of providing an impact on decision making including the following:
  • Safety committees
  • Safety instructors/observers
  • Ad Hoc safety and health problem-solving groups
  • Safety and health training of other workers
  • Analysis of hazards of jobs through prejob and Enhanced Work Planning.
  • Committees which plan and conduct safety and health awareness program.

Construction

Use of labor-management safety committee in the identification and correction of hazardous activities and conditions with the following characteristics:

At least equal representation by bona fide worker representation who work at the site and who are selected, elected, or approved by a duly authorized collective bargaining authorization, or bargaining unit employees who are rotated through committee membership.

Meets regularly, keeps minutes of meetings and follows quorum requirements consisting of at least half of the members of the committee, with representatives of both employees and management.

Makes regular workplace inspections (with at least one worker representative) at least monthly and more frequently as needed, and has provided for at least monthly coverage of the whole work site.

Allow joint committee to:

• Observe or assist in the investigation and documentation of major accidents.
• Have access to all relevant safety and health information, and
• Have adequate training so that the committee can recognize hazards, with continued training as needed.

Where a joint committees differs either in the membership composition or in the functional duties, committees must:

• Meet operational requirements for quorum, meeting minutes, etc.
• Demonstrate that the alternative practices achieve the objectives of the practices they replace.