Document KzDNMwvnpqQekErM93dG4E12

plant, or one for each department, with per haps a central inspection committee to make general or special inspections Since a mam contribution of the inspection committee is that of bringing a fresh view point to an old familiar scene, and, therefore, of catching details overlooked by people too close to the job, some plants have depart mental inspections run by committees from other departments Inspection committee membership should rotate at intervals long enough so that each member has time to make a positive contribu tion and to gain personal experience and in terest, and yet short enough so that the op portunity to serve can be passed around Three months' service is usually the minimum for inspection committee members When inspection committees are started on their work, they should understand that their job is essentially a helpful and constructive one The inspection trip is not a field day for criticism, but rather an opportunity to give a plant or a department the benefit of many eyes and points of view It is important that the foreman accompany the committee on its inspection of his area Comments and criticisms may then be made to him, not to his workers The foreman can provide information and help required by the inspection committee and can be kept ad vised of its actions In making inspections, a safety committee member should keep a watchful eye for un safe practices of employees When he finds these practices, he should report them im mediately to the supervisor and thus give him an opportunity to correct them Those making inspections should wear the protective equipment required in the areas they enter Safety glasses and safety toe shoes are standard, but on some jobs and in some locations special equipment is needed Safety hats, acid goggles, rubber gloves and aprons and respirators are examples If the inspecting team members do not have and cannot get the necessary special protective equipment, they should stay out of the area Findings and observations are cleared through the committee report when the in spection has been completed Under no cir cumstances does the committee or its mem bers interfere with the work of employees or with the condition of the department, nor does it pass judgment while the inspection is in progress Inspections made by safety committees are covered in the next chapter "Get it done" committee Special committees have been successfully used by some companies to get action on such problems as poor housekeeping or failure to wear personal protective equipment The "get it done" committee is usually composed of workmen with a foreman as chairman Safety committees in municipal government Safety programs in municipal government are often carried out through a general or central safety committee Such a committee is usually composed of department heads and supervisors To carry out the work ofa general committee of this type, small special subcommittees are formed, such as an eye protection committee, an attendance committee, and a rules com mittee The function of these subcommittees is to create interest in and carry out the var ious phases of the safety program For ex ample, the eye protection committee may specify when eye protection is to be worn and put on dnves when there is a letdown m the weanng of eye protection They can make recommendations for those who need prescription glasses Promoting Safety Committee Activity The ultimate success of any safety program, be it on the broad company basis or on the more restricted committee level, is controlled in great measure by two important factors (a) maintaining interest, and (b) giving recog nition to employees who render a service to safety Maintaining interest There are many ways of maintaining in terest among safety committeemen To begin with, the men selected to serve on the com mittee must have the interest of the safety work at heart Then, to maintain that interest requires constant effort on the part of the chairman, the safety engineer, and the general safety committee or the central organization Members of safety committees should be given something to do other than mere re- 45