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A Workplace Safety Committee ensures employees feel comfortable raising safety concerns and that these concerns will be heard and actioned. With an effective committee, your employees will feel they contribute to the workplace’s Culture of Safety, boosting moral and reducing incidents.

This guide shows you the best process to establish and run an effective WHS committee in your workplace.

Establish the Functions of the WHS Committee

The Committee's functions should include:

  • Identifying the specific WHS issues that need to be addressed.
  • Contributing to the organisation’s WHS business plan and training programmes.
  • Assisting with the implementation of WHS initiatives.
  • Functioning as a contact point for employee concerns and suggestions about WHS issues.

Define Committee Membership

There are legislative requirements in relation to the establishment of WHS committees that organisations need to comply with. Part of this concerns the make-up of committees, which need to be composed of both company managers and employee representatives; the WHS / OHS Act's lists specific requirements for the number and position of employee reps in each jurisdiction. And, of course, the WHS Representative should be a member of the Committee.

Start the Elections!

It’s important that all employees are involved in the election of their representatives on the committee. To accomplish this, voting should be made accessible for all employees, including shift workers and others who may have variable hours.

Establish Designated Work Groups Where Needed

Legislation prescribes that in some cases, for example where organisations have more than one worksite, designated work groups of multiple employers with their own health and safety reps can be established in addition to workplace-based groups. Such designated work groups can be composed of:

  • Employees of an employer at one or more workplaces;
  • Employees of one or more other employers at one or more workplaces.

The specific details and makeup of such designated work groups should be decided by negotiation between each employer and their employees.

If a work group of this kind is established, managers should be advised of its particulars. This includes the powers of health and safety representatives in the group, who may or may not be company employees.

General advice warning

The information on this site is of a general nature only. It does not take your specific needs or circumstances into consideration. You should look at your own situation and requirements before making any decisions.

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