Do you need an Health and Safety rep?

By - , Build 154

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 expects employers to show they are engaging with employees about improving health and safety.

Figure 1: Do you need to elect a health and safety representative (HSR)?

THE NEW HEALTH AND SAFETY Act does not specifically tell employers how to engage, which varies by industry and workplace. However, the law is clear – businesses must have regular discussions between workers and employers about health and safety.

Many businesses choose to have health and safety representatives (HSRs) or committees as they are a well established way to support worker engagement and participation.

What is a health and safety rep?

An HSR is a worker who has been elected by their work group to represent them in health and safety matters. HSRs carry out duties such as:

  • promoting positive health and safety management practices
  • identifying hazards and risks and working with the employer to manage them – if there’s no resolution and they’re appropriately trained, they can issue a provisional improvement notice
  • consulting with inspectors on health and safety issues.

Use Figure 1 to work out if your workplace needs an HSR.

Figure 1: Do you need to elect a health and safety representative (HSR)?

Specific requirements for representative

To be eligible as an HSR, a worker must:

  • belong to that work group or team
  • be willing to act as a health and safety representative
  • work regularly enough to be able to carry out the functions and to exercise the powers of an HSR effectively.

A representative can hold the position for a maximum of 3 years but is eligible for re-election if they choose. A representative can also resign at any time.

HSRs should have training and support

For HSRs to carry out their job effectively, they should receive training, support and adequate time from their employer to ensure they can effectively fulfil their role.

Training is important. For an HSR to be fully competent and able to issue a provisional improvement notice or a cease unsafe work order, they must have completed training under NZQA Unit Standard 29315.

This training is offered by many organisations, including Site Safe. The Act allows for up to 2 days’ paid leave a year to undertake health and safety training – this allowance increases based on the number of employees.

A positive outcome

Having a competent HSR means a business can work towards a safer and healthier workplace. This makes workers happier and more engaged, which increases productivity and reduces costs as hazards and risks are actively managed.

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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.

Figure 1: Do you need to elect a health and safety representative (HSR)?

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