dysfunctional safety committees · 09/04/2019  · counseling and therapy for dysfunctional safety...

SAFETY COMMITTEE HELP 5¢

Counseling & Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety

Committees

Scott Huberty, ARM

American Society of Safety Professionals

April 9, 2019

Northwest Chapter

American Society of Safety Professionals

Society Website: www.assp.orgLocal Chapter Website: northwest.assp.org

(ASSP)

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Safety Committees

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Merriam-Webster

dys·func·tion

Abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal

behavior or interaction within a group.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Symptoms* Members fail to show up or come

unprepared.

* Meetings turn into gripe sessions.

* Meetings run too long.

* Hazardous conditions go unresolved.

* Source of jokes around the water

cooler.

SAFETY COMMITTEE HELP 5¢

Diagnosis

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndromes

* Abagendaism

* Paracommitteeism

* OSHAphobia

* Supervisionism

* Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: AbagendaismAn on-going condition of a safety

committee characterized by lack of

structure and direction.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: Paracommitteeism

The tendency to avoid or disregard

proper training, whether intentionally

or inadvertently, of a group.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: Paracommitteeism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: Paracommitteeism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

The tendency to avoid or disregard

proper training, whether intentionally

or inadvertently, of a group.

Syndrome: Paracommitteeism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:OSHAphobiaA compulsive behavior characterized

by an excessive preoccupation with

compliance-related motivations.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:OSHAphobia

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:OSHAphobia

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

A compulsive behavior characterized

by an excessive preoccupation with

compliance-related motivations.

Syndrome:OSHAphobia

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:SupervisionismA temporary or permanent condition

resulting in confusion stemming from

the misplacement of enforcement

authority.

“Safety Cops”

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:Supervisionism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:Supervisionism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome:Supervisionism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

A temporary or permanent condition

resulting in confusion stemming from

the misplacement of enforcement

authority.

Syndrome:Supervisionism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: HypermaintenanceThe tendency for safety committees

to focus exclusively on generating on-

going and lengthy “to do” lists for an

organization’s Maintenance Dept.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndrome: Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

The tendency for safety committees

to focus exclusively on generating on-

going and lengthy “to do” lists for an

organization’s Maintenance Dept.

Syndrome: Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Syndromes

* Abagendaism

* Paracommitteeism

* OSHAphobia

* Supervisionism

* Hypermaintenance

SAFETY COMMITTEE HELP 5¢

Treatment

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment of Syndromes

* Abagendaism

* Paracommitteeism

* OSHAphobia

* Supervisionism

* Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: AbagendaismAn on-going condition of a safety

committee characterized by lack of

structure and direction.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Who is on the Committee?

- How many?

- How long?

- Selection

- Management representation

- What to call the group?

Treatment: Abagendaism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Conducting Committee Meetings

- How frequently?

- Where to hold meetings?

- How long do meetings last?

- Establish a meeting format

- Prepare / provide written agenda

- Maintain meeting minutes

- Set date for next meeting

Treatment: Abagendaism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: Paracommitteeism

The tendency to avoid or disregard

proper training, whether intentionally

or inadvertently, of a group.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

We need to teach committee

members how to be a committee!

Treatment: Paracommitteeism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Educating Committee Members

- “How ya doin’?”

- Committee member orientation

- Use of safety manuals

- Measuring organization’s safety

- Keep list of accomplishments

- Safety calendar

Treatment: Paracommitteeism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Teach Committee Members

- Injury history

- Workers Compensation EMF

- OSHA 300 Log & criteria

- OSHA 300A

- Injury Incidence Rates / DART Rates

- AWAIR Goals

- Invest time and money!

Treatment: Paracommitteeism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: OSHAphobiaA compulsive behavior characterized

by an excessive preoccupation with

compliance-related motivations.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: OSHAphobia

Unsafe Actions

vs.

Unsafe Conditions

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

There can be “safety” and there can

be “compliance”, but they’re not

always the same thing…

Employee injury claims

vs.

OSHA recordables

Treatment: OSHAphobia

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

* Conduct “focused inspections”

Treatment: OSHAphobia

* Perform accident investigations

What to do?

* Incorporate quality into safety

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: SupervisionismA temporary or permanent condition

resulting in confusion stemming from

the misplacement of enforcement

authority.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Who really is responsible for

“enforcing” safety rules?

Treatment: Supervisionism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Should they be “rules” or “expectations”?

Treatment: Supervisionism

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: Supervisionism

Think of a Safety Committee as an

ADVISORY Group that provides

direction to Management!

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: Supervisionism

When a Safety Committee acts as an

enforcement authority you get a major

form of dysfunction!

“A man should not serve two

masters…”

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Treatment: Hypermaintenance

The tendency for safety committees

to focus exclusively on generating on-

going and lengthy “to do” lists for an

organization’s Maintenance Dept.

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Often occurs as a result of extreme

cases of Abagendaism. Symptoms

can also be compounded by the

influence of Paracommitteeism.

Treatment: Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

In most cases, treatment plans for

those syndromes will correct the

effects of Hypermaintenance.

Treatment: Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Do not underestimate the importance of a

Safety Committee when it comes to

doing internal audits and self-inspections.

Treatment: Hypermaintenance

Counseling and Therapy for Dysfunctional Safety Committees

Many hazards can be uncovered that

should be corrected by maintenance

functions.

Treatment: Hypermaintenance

SAFETY COMMITTEE HELP 5¢

Summary

Questions?