EPIC Effective Safety Committees

Background to the Course

The course has been designed to inform the members of health and safety committees of roles, functions and responsibilities of the committee and individual members, and to familiarise them with techniques and approaches available to create effective safety committees that can make a positive contribution to improving workplace safety.  The indications from HSE are that one of the areas that quarries inspectors will be focussing on this year are the arrangements companies have for employee participation and this course will help employers with these. It is complementary to the TUC Safety Representatives course endorsed by EPIC; however both courses are stand alone and can be run independently. 

Who Should Attend?

Members of health and safety committees or those aspiring to the position, and health and safety advisors directly involved with committees, or the training of committees.

Course Objectives

On completion of this course, members should:

• Understand the role and functions of safety committees
• Have identified problems with their own committees and discussed solutions
• Have an understanding of the legislation relevant to safety committee
• Understand the principles of accident prevention and their context
• Understand the role and powers of the regulatory bodies
• Have a broad appreciation of the types of workplace inspections required
• Know the main requirements and purpose of risk assessment
• Have a basic understanding of behavioural safety
• Be able to set an agenda and targets for the safety committee
• Have reviewed the sources of information available for safety committees
• Have an improved ability to communicate on safety issues

Course Content

Including, but not necessarily restricted to:

• The role and functions of safety committees
• Relevant health and safety legislation
• Accident investigation
• Functions of the safety representative and other committee members
• The role of the Regulatory bodies, (Enforcement agencies)
• Behavioural safety, (Human factors)
• Risk assessment
• Workplace inspections
• Sources of health and safety  information 

Course Structure and Delivery Methods

A two-day assessed course, consisting of lectures, discussions and individual and group exercises, and multiple choice knowledge assessments, leading to the award of the EPIC Certificate of Achievement.