The latest issue of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety’s (CCOHS’s) newsletter offers 10 tips for improving the effectiveness of safety and health committee meetings.

They include setting the meeting schedule a year in advance.  This allows time for people to plan and prepare.  Circulate the agenda well before the meeting.  During the meeting, move the meeting along by staying focused on the agenda. 

Allott time at every meeting to educate participants on a particular subject.  If an agenda item includes a problem, be sure to state the problem clearly at the outset of the discussion period, summarize the investigation into root causes and recommend specific correction actions.  End all discussion topics with a decision and definite outcomes.

Another tip is to prioritize items that carry over from previous meetings and make sure they are addressed.  Accurate, clear minutes of each meeting should be kept and should include the rationale behind any recommendations that have been made.  Communicate meeting results, including providing online access.

Links to other meeting resources are also provided.