Posted By Julie Geairns Hi there I would very much appreciate some advice on how best to go about setting up regular health and safety committee meetings. I know what should be on the agenda and I also know that there should be a fair balance between staff and management actually on the committee. I am trying to persuade my reluctant boss that this is a good idea. Any thoughts or advice on this issue would be appreciated. Many thanks Julie

Posted By David Paterson Julie, You never said what the make up of your workforce is? Like the last reply posted if 2 shop stewards ask for the committee management can't refuse. If no union is present in the work force, other employee reps can ask, you should canvas for support from the workforce to get them involved. The more the merrier! David

Posted By Sarah J Shaw Julie I have found that one of the bigest things that helped in setting ours up was not calling it a committee. We have an EH&S Focus Group, the idea being that we focus on the issues to the business and address the resources accordingly. In works well in the main, but can get as dry as ditch water if I don't prepare fully before hand. Be prepared to carry it for a while until it develops its own life. For info we are not unionised. Sarah

Posted By Julie Geairns Thanks for all your posts, especially Sarah - we, too, are not unionised and a H&S Focus Group sounds like a good name. It is rather like pushing water up hill in my organisation - I passed my NEBOSH certificate last year and was all fired up with enthusiasm to put what I had learned into practice - but the health and safety culture of the business is not very good. We have a good safety record but then we operate in the main in a low risk environment. We do use solder irons though and no ppe has been issued other than protective latex gloves. I flagged up about needing to issue safety spectacles in June but nothing was done. Then late last year someone got some solder in their eye - luckily it was not serious - and my boss said he was not aware they were not using safety spectacles and that they must. I gave him my opinion on the type of safety spectacles we should order - they were all of a couple of quid each - but he found some that were cheaper and ordered just one as a sample! He was also relucant to spend the money on prescription safety spectacles. I've tackled him a couple of times since and he now told me to find out whether employees should use safety spectacles when they are doing specific tasks or whether they should wear them all the time and the costs involved - this I am doing but it really is an uphill struggle and you do lose heart somewhat. I know he's not keen on the idea of a safety committee, or even a safety focus group, and is probably hoping that I forget all about it - but will keep trying my best to persuade him. Thanks again all Julie