Suggestions for Health & Safety Committee Members
The WHS Act does not say "who" exactly should be on a health and safety committee, other than Health and Safety Representatives (if they chose to.) To understand who should ideally be on an HSC, one needs to understand the purpose and functions of an HSC.
Sections 77a and 77b of the WHS Act describe how HSC personnel collectively assist the business to develop WHS safety measures, plans, policies, and programs for implementation in the workforce. Additionally, Section 77c of the WHS Act allows the committee to enter into an agreement with the business to assist the business with its WHS consultation duties, covered earlier in the Act under Sections 47(3) and 48.
The list below contains suggestions that you might find useful to help maintain an effective health and safety committee and build committee members skills and contributions.
Do what you can to be appropriately informed and trained in the subject of WHS so that you may better understand WHS law, duties, and the risk management process that you will contribute to.
Make a concerted effort to really grasp the details of the plans, policies, measures, and procedures that the business brings to the committee for the committee to help with. These are specific functions required of the HSC under the WHS Act. An HSC is not an HSC if it is not involved in these activities.
If you are an HSR, ensure that you do pass information from the committee to the people in your workgroup and pass information from your people up to the committee as part of any consultation process.
Be prepared for the meeting. Do any required research needed before the committee meeting so you can contribute positively and proactively in the conversations.
Listen and consider management’s point of view. Respect the views of all members and treat others in the same manner that you wish to be treated. Management are required to get the views of every person who may be affected by a WHS matter. Therefore, your involvement in that is integral to management obtaining that information.
Be willing and positive about resolving WHS issues. Improving the WHS management system can require many steps. Be a problem-solver, not a problem-maker. As a committee member you have a right to speak up and contribute to problem-solving and making suggestions. While others must cooperate with you, you must cooperate with them too. Cooperation is reciprocal.
For more information, or if you would like help to make your WHS management system even more robust, please feel free to contact us at train@courtenell.com.au or phone us on 02 9552 2066
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