The Public Service Association (PSA) has been contacted by several members with concerns about Health and Safety consultation. The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) recently conducted a staff survey relating to health and safety representation and released the results on 10 June 2026.
These results indicated 33 individual staff members responded saying they would like either a Health and Safety Representative (10 respondents) or a combination of HSRs with a Work Health and Safety Committee (23 respondents). The PSA understands that despite this, NRAR management intends to continue with only a WHS Committee.
The NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 is unambiguous that if one employee requests a Health and Safety Representative, the employer must facilitate the determination of one or more work groups to facilitate their representation by one or more Health and Safety Representatives (Part 5, Division 3). Additionally, negotiations to determine the work groups to be represented should commence within 14 days of the request.
The PSA is disappointed NRAR management would ignore the wishes of no less than 33 staff and their obligations under the WHS Act. Health and Safety Representatives can and do work constructively with WHS Committees.
Your union will engage management as a matter of urgency to ensure WHS obligations are met and you have the appropriate representation you need to consult on health and safety issues that impact you in your work.
Your workmates want you to nominate for Health and Safety Representative
HSRs and Deputy HSRs are elected to represent their work group on health and safety issues in the workplace.
Your role as an HSR includes:
- representing workers in your work group in health and safety matters
- investigating complaints of the work group relating to health and safety
- monitoring the measures taken by the relevant person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) or that person’s representative to comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act)
- inquiring into potential risks to the health and safety of workers in the work group, arising from the conduct of the business or undertaking
For more information on HSRs, WHS Committees and consultation on WHS issues, visit the SafeWork website HERE.
If you are interested in nominating to be a HSR please contact your PSA Organiser, Michael Parsons