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    State-Certified Workplace Safety Committee Program

    Would you like to reduce your workers' compensation premiums by 5 percent each year? Thousands of PA employers have already saved millions in insurance premiums by setting up a workplace safety committee that meets the requirements for state certification. That's millions that companies are using to buy new equipment, hire more workers, expand their businesses, and even pay bonuses to employees -- money that used to go to paying insurance premiums!

    View the PATHS Training Calendar

    About Workplace Safety Committees

    Workers' compensation insurance coverage is mandatory for most employers under Pennsylvania law. That means any business qualifies for workplace safety committee certification.

    To form a certified workplace safety committee, your business must meet state requirements and you must submit a committee certification application in WCAIS.

    Key eligibility criteria include:

    • Providing your Federal Employer Identification (FEIN) number
      • This can be found by contacting your payroll department, on your workers' compensation insurance declarations page, or on your payroll check.
    • Existing for six consecutive months
    • Maintaining monthly meetings with a quorum of membership in attendance and complete required training for all committee membership
    • Ensuring timely application submission – between 90 and 30 days in advance of your workers’ compensation insurance policy renewal date or, if you are a self-insured employer, between 90 and 30 days of your self-insurance application renewal date

    Does my business qualify for a workplace safety committee? 

    Since March 1994, workplace safety committees have protected more than 1.6 million workers.

    Pennsylvania employers who are insured by SWIF and establish certified workplace safety committees receive a 5 percent discount on their workers' compensation insurance premiums.

    Self-insured employers can also apply for workplace safety committee certification, but are not eligible for a 5 percent premium discount.

    Workplace Safety Committees by the numbers:

    • Since 1994, more than 13,450 state-certified workplace safety committees have been established
    • Employers have saved more than $943 million in workers' compensation premiums.

    Learn more about PA Workplace Safety Committee Certification resources.

    What do you have to do?

    Establish a safety committee that meets certain requirements, fill out a committee certification application and have it approved by the Department of Labor and Industry.

    What are the basic committee requirements?

    • Committees must have a minimum of 2 employer and 2 employee representatives, meet monthly and be in operation for at least 6 full months.
    • All committee members must be trained by qualified trainers in safety committee operation, hazard inspection, accident investigation, and substance abuse & opioid painkiller use.
    • Committee meeting agendas, attendance lists and meeting minutes must be kept for five years.

    Apply for Initial Certification

    Just complete and submit an application to the bureau's Health and Safety Division in WCAIS between 90 and 30 days in advance of your workers' compensation policy renewal date or, if you are a self-insured employer, between 90 and 30 days of your self-insurance application renewal date. You will receive notification if you've been approved or if there are areas where additional information is needed.

    Online Filing using WCAIS

    Apply for Renewal Certification

    You must complete and submit a renewal application to the bureau's Health and Safety Division for review between 90 and 15 days in advance of your worker's compensation policy renewal date or, if you're a self-insured employer, between 90 and 15 days of your self-insurance application renewal date. The application will ask you to attest that the committee continues to meet all certification requirements upon which the initial certification was based. Once a renewal is approved, you will receive written notification that you must provide to your worker's compensation insurer who will calculate and apply the discount.

    Apply for Renewal Certification

    Help in Getting Certified

    Required Committee Member Training

    Annual training of all safety committee members by a qualified provider is a requirement for state certification. This training must be completed prior to submitting your initial or renewal application. This training satisfies the requirements for annual training.

    Topics Include: 

    • Safety Committee Operations
    • Hazard Detection & Prevention
    • Incident Investigation & Prevention
    • Substance Abuse & Opioid Painkiller Use

    Webinar (WSC Webinar)

    All committee members can participate in the one hour webinar session in the same training room if you have a computer, projector and screen, internet connection and telephone. However, if they choose committee members can also participate from their own individual work stations.

    Group Training (Group WSC)

    This is a one hour instructor led interactive training of safety committee members by a qualified provider in a group setting.