A Day in the Life of a Health and Safety Representative

Have you seen the video by SafeWork NSW called “A Day in the Life of a HSR”. It’s only 1 min 48 seconds long and is the result of interviewing four HSRs from different workplaces. This is a great video to give people further understanding of what an HSR is and what they are typically involved with in the workplace. HSRs play an important role in workplace health and safety.

This is a YouTube video published by SafeWork NSW in 2019, available HERE

The WHS laws show that consultation is about more than just sharing information. It should be a two-way conversation in which workers have a reasonable opportunity to participate in the resolution of WHS matters at a workplace (see Section 48 WHS Act).

In page 59 of the Safe Work Australia Review of the Model WHS Laws: Final Report : “The model WHS laws recognise the value of worker participation and representation in improving health and safety at the workplace. Processes and procedures in the laws aim to support genuine and effective consultation with workers through consultation procedures specifically agreed at a workplace, or through the election of HSRs and the establishment of HSCs.” And on page 62 of the Review of the Model WHS Laws: Final Report; “Research undertaken for SafeWork SA shortly after the model WHS laws were implemented indicates that managers identify the following benefits of meaningful consultation with their workers:

• better outcomes when involving people with practical knowledge who ‘do the job’

• more creative solutions as you hear different points of view

• increased ownership of WHS decisions by workers, and

• improvement in workers’ commitment to implementing change”

For more information feel free to contact us at train@courtenell.com.au or phone us on 02 9552 2066

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