Risk, Health and Safety Committee Charter

This charter describes the role and function of the Mecklenburg Emergency Services Agency’s (aka MEDIC) Risk, Health, and Safety Committee (“the Safety Committee) as approved by its Team members

Purpose

The purpose of the Committee is to improve the safety and health of MEDIC as whole.  It is to assist the Administrative Team in fulfilling its corporate governance and supervisory responsibilities as it relates to

• The adequacy and reliability of risk identification, mitigation and reporting;
• Ensuring that a risk and safety management plan is prepared and reviewed at least annually;
• Addressing Risk areas related to include (but not limited to):
  • Regulatory
  • People & Safety
  • Environment and Community
  • Business continuity
  • Governance/legal
  • Reputational
• The adequacy and appropriateness of workplace health and safety policies to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, contractors, and visitors to its premises.

Responsibilities

The Committee members must review this document annually to ensure its continued effectiveness. The Committee as a whole is responsible for the following:

• Assisting in communicating procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of control measures used to protect employees from safety and health hazards in the workplace;
• Assisting in reviewing and updating workplace safety rules based on accident investigation findings, any inspection findings, and employee reports of unsafe conditions or work practices; and accepting and addressing anonymous complaints and suggestions from employees.
• Assisting management in updating the workplace safety program by evaluating employee injury and accident records, identifying trends and patterns, and formulating corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
• Assisting management in evaluating employee accident and illness prevention programs, and promoting safety and health awareness and co-worker participation through continuous improvements to the workplace safety program
• Safety committee members will participate in safety training and be responsible for assisting in monitoring workplace safety education and training to ensure that it is in place, that it is effective, and that it is documented.

The Risk, Health and Safety Committee operates principally as review advisory body and makes recommendations to the Risk and Safety Supervisor.  The Risk and Safety Supervisor is ultimately responsible for developing policy to ensure best practice for health and wellbeing of the Agency. The Management Team retains primary responsibility for implementing the Agency’s risk and safety management functions.

Membership

The Committee will be comprised of a cross-section of employees from all areas of the Agency.  Anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact his or her Supervisor or the Risk and Safety Office.

Meetings

Committee meetings will occur no less than 10 times per annual year. Additional meetings may occur if needed. Compensation for committee members will be at his or her hourly wage when engaged in safety committee activities.