Joint Committee on Safety and Health at Work
It is an institution’s body for the promotion and monitoring of occupational health and safety standards and regulations through promotional, information and dissemination activities. COPASST (Joint Committee on Safety and Health at Work) must ensure that the risks of illness and accidents resulting from work are reduced to the minimum possible.
It is called joint because it is made up of the same number of people representing the employer (Principal’s office) and the workers. «Parity» refers to «pair,» «equality» and «equity.» Employer representatives will be appointed directly by the Principal’s office and workers will choose theirs by free vote.
The committee is valid for two (2) years from the date of its installation. Once these two years have elapsed, the process for a new election must be opened.
COPASST is an important support committee for the execution of the Occupational Health and Safety management system, since from its management they can promote promotion and prevention activities to support intervention in risk reduction. It also acquires great importance as they listen to and process workers’ requests on issues that may affect their health and safety at work.
Functions:
- Propose measures and the development of promotion and prevention activities
- Propose training activities in OSH
- Collaborate with officials of government occupational health and safety entities
- Monitor the development of activities related to occupational safety and health
- Analyze accidents at work and occupational diseases and propose corrective measures to the employer
- Periodically visit workplaces and inspect
- Study and consider the suggestions that workers present
- Accompany audits to the occupational health and safety management system
