The Role of the Rep

The Act contains a set of functions for health and safety representatives (listed below. The role of the rep should be included in your workplace's Worker Participation system. You need to make sure the functions your worksite agrees to are appropriate for your own workplace. That may mean agreeing with your employer to a different set of functions than those set out in the Act.

Being an elected Health and Safety Representative is a very important role. It carries with it significant powers, but also the responsibility of representing fellow workers in relation to health and safety issues.

What Does the Act Say About the Role?

The role of the H&S rep, as set out in the Act (Part 2 Schedule 1A) includes:

• Fostering positive H&S management practices in the place of work

• Identifying and bring to the employer's attention hazards in the place of work and discussing with the employer ways that the hazards may be dealt with

• Consulting with OSH inspectors on health and safety issues

• Promoting the interests of workers in a health and safety context generally and in particular those workers who have been harmed at work, including in relation to arrangements for rehabilitation and return to work

• Carrying out any functions conferred on the representative by:

• a system of employee participation (if an agreed system)

• or the employer (with the agreement of the H&S rep or the union representing the H&S rep), including any functions referred to in a Code of Practice.

Other Responsibilities

Hazard Notices

Health and safety reps will be trained to undertake the process leading up to and, if necessary serving a Hazard Notice on the employer.

Hazard notices can be be issued by a trained health and safety rep using the form which can be downloaded below.

Advising Fellow Workers On Refusal of Unsafe Work

S28A (3) places a significant responsibility on the H&S rep in advising fellow workers on refusal of unsafe work. If the H&S rep advises the worker that the work is likely to cause serious harm then that amounts to reasonable grounds.