Strategic Human Resources – PSA update – July 2018 (PDF version)
Do you want to be a Health and Safety Representative?
In order to safeguard the WHS interests of SHR staff the PSA will soon be lodging a request for the election of Health and Safety Representatives with Justice HR.
What is a Health and Safety Representative (HSR)?
An HSR is a worker elected by their colleagues to represent the work health and safety (WHS) interests of that workgroup as per s68 of the Work Health & Safety Act 2011. They work with the employer in instigating, developing and carrying out measures to ensure WHS at the workplace. This can involve:
- developing WHS policies and procedures
- reviewing measures taken to address risks
- monitoring WHS performance data such as incident and injury reports.
If they have completed the HSR training course, a HSR has the following powers:
- Cease Unsafe Work: direct workers to cease unsafe work if there is a serious risk of immediate danger
- Provisional Improvement Notices (PIN): issue management with a PIN when there is a safety problem and consultation with the employer has not remedied the problem.
The PSA encourages the elections of HSRs in workplaces as they are a powerful and effective tool in protecting the WHS interests of workers.
How are HSRs elected?
Once workers have requested an HSR election, management have 14 days to commence negotiations with workers around specifics of the HSR structure such as workgroup boundaries and the number of HSRs for each workgroup. HSRs must be democratically elected by workers in an open and transparent election process.
Are you interested in becoming an HSR?
To find out more about becoming a HSR please contact your PSA Delegate in SHR: Jessica Woodruff () or your PSA Organiser: Surabi Alauddin ()
What can you do?
- Encourage your colleagues to join the PSA online at: https://membership.psa.asn.au/register
- Give a copy of this bulletin to your colleagues.
- Print this bulletin and put it up on your notice board.
- Get involved as a PSA Delegate or Contact: get in touch with your Organiser.
- Update your workplace details at https://psa.asn.au/update-your-details/