An effective Health and Safety Committee (HSC) is essential to creating a safe, compliant, and high-performing workplace. When working well, it serves as a structured forum for engagement between workers and management – driving real change under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
But when things go wrong, the impact can be wide-ranging. Poorly run committees can lead to confusion, low engagement, and missed opportunities to improve health and safety outcomes.
In this article, we explore five clear signs your Health and Safety Committee is ineffective – and offer practical ways to get it back on track.
1. Your Health and Safety Committee Has No Terms of Reference or Constitution
One of the most common failings is the absence of a formal Terms of Reference (ToR) or Constitution. Without this, the Health and Safety Committee lacks purpose, structure, and direction.
Why this matters:
No clear role for members – Without a ToR, Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) may act beyond their scope or take on tasks they're not authorised to perform.
Misalignment with business objectives – A committee without defined structure is unlikely to align with strategic or legal goals.
Confusion and HR risk – Poorly defined roles can lead to conflict, dysfunction, or even HR-related issues.
What a strong Terms of Reference includes:
The purpose and powers of the committee
The balance of worker and management members
Meeting structure and frequency
Processes for agenda setting, voting, and reporting
Election and review procedures
Having this document is step one to building an effective Health and Safety Committee.
2. Your Health and Safety Committee Lacks Balanced Representation
Committees need to reflect the workforce they represent. An imbalance between management and workers creates dysfunction.
Two common imbalances:Too many managers:
Tends to dominate the conversation
Can reduce the trust of frontline workers
Leads to missed grassroots insights
Too many workers:
May struggle to implement meaningful change
Can lack decision-making influence
Best practice:
Aim for equal representation – with a minimum of 50% worker members – and ensure each person understands their role. Management participants should enable decisions, not control the meeting.
3. Your Health and Safety Committee Uses Meetings to Report New Incidents
This is a major red flag. A Health and Safety Committee meeting is not the place to report new hazards or incidents for the first time.
Why this is ineffective:
Delays response times – Incidents should be actioned in real time, not deferred to the next monthly meeting.
Distracts from the purpose – Meetings become reactive instead of focusing on performance improvement.
Blocks strategic discussion – Time is lost on case-by-case discussion instead of big-picture improvement.
What effective meetings focus on:
Reviewing KPIs and audit results
Tracking outstanding actions
Lessons learned from incidents (already reported)
Exploring new ideas, innovations, and proactive campaigns
Reviewing worker feedback and communication plans
Use a standing agenda and an action tracker to stay on point.
4. Your Health and Safety Committee Is Dominated by One or Two Voices
Committees thrive on diverse input. When one or two individuals control the discussion, the committee fails to represent the workforce.
Signs this is happening:
Little or no participation from HSRs or frontline workers
Same people always lead every discussion
Lack of input from quieter members or minority roles
How to fix it:
Train or appoint a skilled Chairperson who can facilitate balanced discussion
Rotate the Chair role if appropriate
Use round-the-room updates to ensure all voices are heard
Invite pre-submitted topics for inclusion in the agenda
Creating space for all members makes your Health and Safety Committee more inclusive and effective.
5. Your Health and Safety Committee Meetings Run Too Long and Lack Direction
Lengthy, unfocused meetings are a sure sign of an ineffective Health and Safety Committee.
Common causes:
No agenda or unclear meeting objectives
Dominance by one or two participants
Venting sessions with no actionable outcomes
Repetitive discussions on unresolved items
Best practice:
Pre-circulate a timed agenda
Limit meetings to 60 minutes
Align topics with business strategy and performance goals
Use a structured action tracker with ownership and deadlines
Sample agenda:
Welcome and minutes
Action item follow-ups
Performance metrics
Lessons learned
Campaign and initiative planning
Training updates
Communication and engagement
New ideas
Summary and next steps
Structure doesn’t stifle conversation – it makes it meaningful.
Fixing an Ineffective Health and Safety Committee
A high-functioning Health and Safety Committee should:
Be guided by a clear Terms of Reference
Include balanced representation
Focus on strategy and improvement
Enable participation from all members
Operate with purpose, not just compliance
Advanced Safety supports businesses to:
Develop customised ToRs and governance models
Train Chairs and HSRs in effective meeting facilitation
Create performance dashboards
Refresh committee engagement and purpose
If your committee is underperforming, we’re here to help.
Want to Improve Your Workplace Safety?
Contact Advanced Safety for expert guidance and support.
Contact Us TodayConclusion: Elevate Your Health and Safety Committee’s Impact
A Health and Safety Committee is more than a compliance requirement – it’s a leadership opportunity. Done well, it strengthens culture, improves performance, and boosts engagement across the board.
If your meetings feel off-track, or if the same problems keep coming up without resolution, it’s time to reassess your structure.
Let’s create a committee that drives results – not just record-keeping.
