Purpose and Objectives
It is the policy of Company that the CEO and Senior Management have the overall responsibility to ensure that the Obligations and Responsibilities Statements in this policy are issued and followed.
Scope/Coverage
This policy applies to the Health & Safety Representative (HSR) / Safety Advisor (SA) of Company; and includes contractors and members of the public.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the Health & Safety Representatives
- Represent co-workers about WHS issues
- Assist in the prevention and resolution of WHS issues within the representative’s area of representation
- Conduct hazard inspections as per the ‘Hazard Inspection Matrix’
- Conduct or participate in carrying out risk assessments for identified hazards as required
- Liaising with supervisors, managers and the safety advisor on WHS issues
- Provide support to achieve the objectives of Company
- Conduct toolbox talks with or in consultation with the supervisor
- Attend all Health and Safety Committee meetings
- Participate in Managing the Chair for Health and Safety Committee meetings on a rotational basis
Function
- To represent the workers in the group in matters relating to work health and safety;
- To monitor the measures taken by the person conducting the relevant business or undertaking or that person’s representative in compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in relation to workers in the group;
- To investigate complaints from members of the workgroup relating to work health and safety;
- To inquire into anything that appears to be a risk to the health and safety of workers in the workgroup, arising from the conduct of the business or undertaking;
- To review circumstances surrounding workplace incidents;
- To advise the employer of the results of the review and to make recommendations arising out of the review;
- To be consulted by the employer on any proposed change to the workplace, or plant or substances used in the workplace, that affects or may affect, the work health and safety of persons a the workplace;
- To help in the resolution of work health and safety issues within the HSRs area of representation;
- To be told by the employer of the presence of an inspector at the workplace if the HSR is at the workplace;
- To report orally or in the approved form to the employer or SA an issue that in the HSR’s opinion affects, or may affect, the work health and safety of persons at the workplace and seek the employer’s cooperation in remedying the matter;
- Ask the employer to establish a workplace health and safety committee for the workplace;
- To be a member of a Health and Safety Committee;
- To attend appropriate training courses;
- For a qualified HSR, to give a person in the HSR’s area of representation a provisional improvement notice (refer to 2.5.4.1 Provisional Improvement Notices);
- To exercise these entitlements during normal working hours; and
- Conduct toolbox talks as necessary.
Responsibilities of the Safety Advisor / WHSO
- Implement, maintain and coordinate the Company Integrated Management System – Whirligig Compliance
- Develop the Company Integrated Management System and Quarterly Action Plans for all relevant workers
- Provide regular performance reports to senior management on the progress of the KPIs outlined in Whirligig Compliance
- Provide regular performance reports to senior management on the progress of and incidents including injuries, illness and accidents
- Coordinate the investigations of all incidents (including injuries, illnesses, near misses and dangerous occurrences) throughout the organisation
- Notify relevant authorities of all notifiable events, and keeping management informed of incident status
- Develop corporate WHS policies, procedures and work instructions in consultation with relevant workers
- Develop and assist with the provision of WHS educational and training programs
- Provide advice to management when required about WHS decision-making
- Liaising with the CEO (or delegated officer), the HSR and the Workplace Rehabilitation Coordinator on respective WHS issues
- Undertake random inspections and reviews on the current system to ensure all Procedures, Processes and Safe Work Method Statements are being followed
- Ensure a WHS Audit is undertaken every two years (internally / externally)
- Attend all Health and Safety Committee meetings
Function
- To tell the PCBU or principal contractor about the overall state of health and safety in the workplace;
- To conduct inspections at the workplace to identify any hazards and unsafe or unsatisfactory workplace health and safety conditions and practices;
- To report in writing to the PCBU or principal contractor any hazard or unsafe or unsatisfactory workplace health and safety practices identified during inspections;
- To establish appropriate education programs in workplace health and safety;
- To investigate, or assist in the investigation of, all workplace incidents at the workplace;
- To help inspectors in the performance of the inspector’s duties;
- Conduct an annual assessment of the workplace to identify hazards or unsafe or unsatisfactory conditions or practices at the workplace;
- Give a copy of the assessment report to the WHS Committee and the PCBU or principal contractor; and
- Conduct toolbox talks as necessary.
Election of HSR
- Workers in a workgroup may negotiate with Company (PCBU) about HSRs for the workplace, including:
- The number of HSRs for the workgroup;
- The extent to which the PCBU will facilitate the election of one or more HSRs for the workgroup;
- If there is to be more than one HSR, each representative’s area of representation;
- Access to appropriate training;
- Workers may be represented by the union of which they are members if they have told the PCBU that they want to be represented by their union;
- Company (PCBU) must, if asked by the workers, facilitate the election of an HSR for the workgroup/s;
- A worker elected as an HSR is elected for a term of three (3) years from the day the worker was elected;
- An HSR is eligible for re-election; and
- If an HSR does not want to continue in the role of HSR, notification must be given to Company (PCBU) immediately.
Documentation
- Delegation of Power and Authorisations – Guidelines
- Code of Conduct for Employees
- Higher Duties and Secondment Policy
- Procurement Policy and Standards
- Company Register of Delegations