Health and Safety Representatives play a vital role in workplace health and safety. It can be all too easy to let things slide or accept that when people say; “that’s the way it’s done around here”, we don’t question why. But that’s not the reason you became a HSR, right?
By effectively representing your workgroup you can make a real difference; not only in relation to reducing the number of accidents or near misses, but also making your workgroup feel safer and happier.
So with this in mind, here are some top tips for HSRs:
- Subscribe to websites to regularly receive WHS updates. Some of the sites I subscribe to include SafeWork SA and SafeWork Australia
- Get involved. If you don’t have a health and safety committee, why not request one? (remember S75 of the WHS Act). If you do have a committee, are you a member, and do you fully contribute?
- For those of you who have attended one of my courses, you’ll know how I love to talk. I encourage all HSRs to do the same! If your workplace does not have regular WHS inspections, why not arrange one? Inspections are a great opportunity to get out and speak to your workgroup, and to find out how they feel about WHS issues. If you don’t know about a problem, then you can’t be expected to bring it to the attention of your PCBU.
- Keep doors shut, clear hallways and revise emergency procedures to minimse risks and hazards in the workplace
These are just a few hints to remind you about HSR essentials. Tune in to our HSR newsletter for more tips. You never know, it could save your business a few massive headaches, and protect your colleagues along the way.