Safety representatives committees joint union-management

Generally there was very scanty knowledge of the committee structure. Managers, supervisors, and safety representatives were asked specifically about joint union—management safety committees. Those who knew anything were most likely to be in the operations department, but differences among grades of staff were the most marked. 

There were a number of important ways in which occupational health and safety legislation incorporates the workforce, through its safety representatives, into the routine regulation of health and safety. Safety representatives, managers, and supervisors were asked about two of these, namely joint union-management safety committees and workplace inspections. 

In other joint committees, there may be either more employee participants (for example, at construction sites where several different trade unions represent employees) or more management participants (especially where safety, medical, and industrial hygiene professionals are counted as management). The top management at the workplace frequently chairs these conunittees. In other cases these committees are employees who are elected by the committee itself [7]. They work by consensus and do not take formal votes. Their usual functions are similar to those of the joint labor-management committees. 

Joint consultation between employers and employees is an important feature of the safety management process. Managers may liaise with trade union appointed safety representatives through the operation of a health and safety committee, or as part of a normal employer/employee consultative process. 

The nomination of safety committee members should be done on a democratic basis, and the chairperson likewise elected, where applicable. One of the most important committees to be established under these standards would be the joint management and union safety and health committee. This committee would assist in the setting of standards of accountability of the various persons. It also offers a platform for open and frank safety discussion between management and employee representatives. 

---