Creating a world class safety culture requires more than a well written safety program, policies and procedures. It demands commitment, collaboration and continuous improvement. Traditional safety committees focus on compliance and reporting. They are usually run by the Safety Professional, who presents and speaks most of the meeting. An empowered Safety Task Force will demonstrate collective collaboration, elevating your safety culture and performance to the highest levels.

In this blog, we will explore the essentials of an effective Safey Task Force (STF): How to assemble one, the structure of the meetings, and the tangible return on investment it will deliver for your business.

In today’s fast-paced work environment, bridging the communication gap between employees and managers is essential to creating a safe and productive workplace. Communication is the #1 issue employees identify in culture surveys. But how do you attack such a broad subject. The STF emerges as a powerful solution and unlike typical committees, it is dynamic team of you people who are empowered to drive safety engagement, awareness, solve problems and champion continuous improvement.

Establishing an effective STF begins with recruiting the right team and a clear mission. I strongly recommend the CEO or President (highest ranking person) announce the company is assembling a STF and explain why the STF will be so vital to the future success of the organization.

As you begin assembling the team, a cross functional group across the entire organization will yield the best outcomes. The team should be no larger than 12 people, comprised of 33% employees, 33% supervisors/managers, 1 C-Suite leader, and 1 – 2 Safety team members. Include volunteers first, as these individuals shared that they are passionate about improving workplace safety. They will prove to be engaged immediately and make a huge difference. Include employees with varied company and safety experiences. Examples include people who have worked in strong safety records or companies with historical safety challenges.

The objectives of the first meeting are to: 1. Develop a mission statement, 2. Ratify meeting Agenda and duration, 3. Establish Meeting Frequency (same day and time strongly recommended).

An example of a Mission Statement could read: “The Safety Task Force fosters collaboration between employees and management to improve communication, enhance workplace safety, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.”

To maintain team focus and consistency, STF meetings should have an established agenda and we recommend meeting monthly for 90 minutes per session. While meeting in person is preferable, having people join by video is acceptable if their camera is always on.

An Agenda that fosters immediate engagement may look like:

• Segue (5 min) – each person shares a personal or business win they recently experience
• Scorecard (5 min)– review key safety performance indicators (Leading Indicators)
• Quarterly Goal (5 min) – each team member has an individual goal and updates team
• To Do’s (5 min) – what was completed and not completed since last meeting
• Improvement Ideas – (60 mins) – team members submit ideas pre-meeting and discuss
• Conclude (10 mins) – individual To Do’s to move the culture forward

I recommend the use of software or Artificial Intelligence to automatically document meeting notes and track progress. Share STF progress throughout entire company at minimum, quarterly. Rotate employees, supervisors, and managers annually to bring in fresh ideas, fostering broader engagement and continuous improvement.

Implementing a Safety Task Force will deliver measurable and intangible benefits. These benefits will include reduced incidence and cost, enhanced employee engagement, culture of accountability, and strengthened reputation, and continuous improvement.

A Safety Task Force is more than just a team or a safety meeting. It is a commitment to safety excellence. Each day, month, quarter, and year the improvements stimulated by the STF will continue to drive the safety culture forward. New and empowered STF teams will do the same, bridging communication gaps, promoting engagement, and consistently elevating safety performance.

Commit to a STF – Try a different approach that has proven to yield better results.
Select your STF Team – Remember, say yes to volunteers first.
Implement – Begin STF meetings, tracking and sharing progress throughout the organization.

Next Week, We Will Explore:

Learning from Incidents – Lessons Learned

1. Discover how to increase incident reporting, naturally and without gimmicks.
2. Explore how to develop Lessons Learned
3. Learn how to effectively share these Lessons Learned, preventing repeat incidents.

In 1995, my wife and I packed up and moved west in pursuit of opportunity and the dream of building a future for our family. Today, 29 years later, our twins—our greatest pride—are beginning their own journeys at rival colleges in Arizona. They are my “Why,” the driving force behind everything I do, including my passion for workplace safety and accountability.

Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked across multiple industries as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), leading efforts to create safer, more accountable work environments. From commercial insurance companies to some of the largest construction firms in the country, I’ve seen how accountability—or the lack of it—can make or break an organization. In 2012, my partners and I founded a safety consulting firm, built from scratch, with a shared mission to improve workplace safety.

Through it all, one thing has remained clear: a culture of accountability is the bedrock of highly successful businesses. But it’s not just about policies and procedures—it’s about engaging and empowering people to take ownership of their work and safety. It’s about showing that you genuinely care about your people. In this blog series, I’ll explore how leaders can foster this culture and, in turn, create engaged, safer, and more resilient organizations.

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