Pennsylvania safety committee program cuts workers’ comp costs, state claims

Harrisburg, PA – Hundreds of workplaces in Pennsylvania have taken advantage of a state-sanctioned program that promotes safety and reduces workers’ compensation costs through the establishment of safety committees, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

The Workplace Safety Committee Certification Program certified safety committee applications for 42 new member organizations and re-certified applications for 598 other organizations. The program saved employers more than $4.6 million in workers’ comp costs in May, officials said.

Committees must meet the following criteria:

• Exist for at least six months before initial application.
• Include no fewer than two employer and two employee representatives.
• Meet at least once a month.
• Have members trained at least once a year by someone qualified in safety committee operations, hazard inspections and incident investigations.
• Document meeting agendas and meeting minutes.
• Submit initial application 30 to 90 days before organization’s renewal date for workers’ comp insurance policy.

“The Workplace Safety Committee Program continues to be a tremendous resource for lowering the rate of workplace accidents, increasing workplace safety education, and generating millions in savings for Pennsylvania businesses,” Labor and Industry Secretary Kathy Manderino said in a press release.