Support Material - OH & S Committees

A Guide to Health and Safety Committees

SOURCE: South Australian Occupational Health and Safety Commission

Health and safety committees provide a forum for management and workers to regularly discuss health and safety issues in the workplace.

They are an important way for employees to help manage their own health and safety and assist employers in providing a safer, healthier workplace. The formation of a committee provides a process for open communication on health and safety issues and is to be encouraged.

Establishing a Committee

If a workplace has at least 20 workers and a health and safety representative (HSR) or any five employees at the workplace ask for a committee; within two months of receiving a request to do so.

Membership of the committee(s) must be agreed upon by the employer, the HSR(s) and any interested employees. At least half of the members of a committee must
be workers.

If an employee is union member he or she can ask that their union to be consulted about the membership of the committee.

Employees must have equal or greater representation than the employer.

Employers nominate their representatives.

Employees have the sole right to select their own representatives. Candidates may nominate for election provided they are employees of the organisation and irrespective of whether they are HSRs.

However, because HSRs are the only employees entitled to paid training leave under the Act, employees should consider electing them to the committee.

Persons employed in a managerial capacity (e.g. forepersons) would not normally be considered eligible for election. The term of office for a member is two years.

Membership may be varied at any time by agreement between the employer and the majority of members who are employees.

Resolving Disputes

If agreement cannot be reached on any matter concerned with setting up the committee(s), the Act provides a mechanism for resolving the dispute. Either the employer, employee or trade union can ask the South Australia Industrial Commission to resolve the dispute.

Procedures of the Committee

The committee elects its own chairperson, who may hold office for up to 12 months. It can determine its own method of operation and establish sub-committees as it thinks fit.

A meeting can be called by the employer , a HSR or at least half the members.

A meeting can only be held if there is a quorum. A quorum is when more than half the members are present.

The Act requires that the committee should meet at least every three months or more frequently when an agreed need is established. Minutes must be recorded and kept for at least three years.

Functions of the Committee

The functions of the committee are to:

• facilitate co-operation between an employer and employees in initiating, developing, carrying out and monitoring measures designed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees;
• assist in the resolution of occupational health and safety issues at the workplace;
• assist in the formulation and dissemination (in appropriate languages) of policies, practices and procedures that promote health and safety at the workplace; consult with the employer on any proposed or actual changes to health and safety policies, practices and procedures at the workplace; keep under review the management of injured workers including measures for active rehabilitation and gainful rehabilitation
  and gainful employment; and to assist in the employment of disabled workers.

Committees may also carry out additional functions quite specific to their own organisations.

The sorts of issues dealt with by committees may include:

• development of a health and safety policy;
• programmes of health and environmental monitoring;
• emergency procedures;
• health and safety training for employees;
• examination of trends in accident and illness reports.
• procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and codes of practice.

The committee may also be required to participate in the resolution of disputes over health and safety issues.

Employer Responsibilities

The employer has a responsibility to consult the committee on any proposed workplace changes (e.g. plant, substances used, handled and stored, work conducted and work procedures); and occupational health and safety practices, policies and procedures used and their changes.

Committees are an important means by which management, employees and unions can work together to enhance health and safety at the workplace.

Further Information

South Australian Occupational Health and Safety Commission

lst Floor , Henry Waymouth Building 100 Waymouth Street ADELAIDE SA 5000

Telephone: 2263120