Health, Wellness and Safety: A Committee in Action from an Employee’s Perspective
By Ashley Bickford
Chemistry Consulting and its’ subsidiary GT Hiring Solutions have a very organized and productive HWS Committee and I am proud to be a member of it.
The committee has one individual from each office participate in monthly meetings over a phone conference led by our committee leader. The meetings begin by going over the past items to ensure they have been resolved. We then provide for an open discussion or “round table” so that all members can talk about any health or safety concerns that have arisen in their offices. We also discuss the protocols to follow when someone becomes injured at work and ensure that evacuation procedures, first aid kits/emergency kits and WHIMIS sheets are properly maintained. In addition, conduct audits and plan for events like fire drills or ShakeOutBC. We also discuss wellness initiatives that could be implemented within the office. We document the meeting and post the minutes for all employees to see.
In order to involve all of our employees in health and safety, we have developed a theme for each month to raise awareness. As an example, in August we focused on creating a healthier environment; each committee member was given a budget to spend on healthy snacks for their office and encouraged to participate in an outdoor activity together. This is a great way to bring your team together!
Another aspect of the committee is being aware of world events or crises that may be affecting your team. Chemistry Consulting/GT Hiring Solution’s Health, Wellness & Safety Committee reminds staff of available support lines and how to access them.
Being a member of the committee has its responsibilities and does take time and effort out of your schedule – but I think it is important to have someone in this role for each office location. It gives the rest of your employees a point of contact if they come across something that they think is unsafe or something that could become hazardous in the future. It creates a sense of comfort to your team knowing that someone is looking out for them and that issues will be resolved in a timely manner, or in the event of an emergency that everything will be in order. And personally – I find it rewarding and a great learning experience.
As a new employee and member of the Health, Wellness, and Safety committee, I have become aware of how important it is to have an active committee addressing issues and looking for that next step to make the work environment safer, or greener, or more engaged.
Looking for more HR advice? Sign up for our HR In-Brief newsletter updates!