Safety Representative – Safety is Everyone’s Business
The Law – Consultation
The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005 require all employers to ensure there is
consultation between employers and their employees. Consultation with employees involves
listening to their views and taking them into account as part of the decision making process.
The election of a safety representative by the workers fulfills this requirement.
Question:
Do you have a safety representative who has been elected by your employees?
Question:
Do you know that having a safety representative in your workplace is a vital link in the chain of
safety management?
Accident Free Workplace:
The ultimate goal for all employers is to have a happy and healthy workforce.
The safety representative can help you to keep the workplace accident free. They are actually
carrying out the working activity and may become aware of unsafe acts as soon as they exist.
They will recognise “a dodgy situation”, consult with all employees concerned and are in a position
to make recommendations to the employer to have preventative measures put in place rather than
reactive measures.
Employees can approach the them to report unsafe acts or work practices.
The safety representative is the spokesperson for your employees. You should act on their
recommendations.
They can keep employees informed on safety measures to protect their safety,
health & welfare and will also keep management informed of employees ideas/initiatives into
keeping their workplace safe for them. Employees should be given the opportunity to consider,
discuss and give their opinions on safe work procedures that concern them in their workplace.
By consulting with employees, the employer now has a workforce that is committed to ensuring that
their workplace is safe for them and anyone else to enters their workplace. They are actively
involved and have been given ownership of their health & safety.
Functions of the Safety Representative:
Under the 2005 Act, a safety representative does not have duties but does have functions and
therefore on accepting the role of safety representative cannot be held legally accountable for
reporting/or putting control measures into effect.
Training and Information:
You should facilitate for the election of a representative and provide training in this
specific role. It is essential that safety representatives have the knowledge and skills
necessary to perform their function effectively. Training Courses should include:
- Safety and Health Legislation
- Role of the Safety Representative
- Functions of the Safety Statement
- Hazard identification and carrying out Risk Assessments
- Carrying out safety and health audits
- Accident Investigations