Union Approach to Health and Safety: - United Steelworkers

Meetings should be at least two hours, and as long as needed.
c. How are meeting agendas established?
Agendas for joint labor-management health and safety committee meetings
should be developed with equal input from union representatives. This is an
effective way to assure that issues of concern to the union will appear on the
agenda to be discussed.
d. Are there reports, documents, and/or information that are regularly
reviewed prior to or at joint safety committee meetings?
Among the documents and information that should be reviewed monthly
(preferably prior to, but at least during joint committee meetings) are:
last month’s OSHA 300 Log of workplace injuries/illnesses,
accident reports,
incident reports,
hazards identified,
worker complaints,
walk-around inspection results,
results from tests conducted on the work environment,
summary results from medical tests such as hearing tests,
reports on corrective actions taken on previously identified
hazards,
workers compensation claims (medical only and lost-time), and
unsafe staffing forms (in health care facilities).
f. How do issues/problems get on the committee’s agenda?
The union should identify items it wants to have included on the joint
committee agenda (which should be developed with equal participation from
labor and management).
g. When hazards are identified, are alternative methods for hazard
control, as well as short- and long-term solutions, discussed?