Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are individuals elected by workers in a workplace to represent their interests in matters relating to health, safety, and welfare. Their role is a key part of occupational health and safety (OHS) systems in workplaces where there are legal frameworks in place to ensure worker safety and engagement in safety practices.

Key Responsibilities of HSRs:

1. Represent Workers: They act as a liaison between workers and management on matters related to health, safety, and welfare.
2. Identify Hazards: They work with employees to identify potential health and safety risks in the workplace.
3. Raise Issues: If hazards or safety concerns arise, HSRs can raise these issues with management or relevant authorities to address them.
4. Participate in Safety Inspections: They may participate in regular workplace safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments.
5. Promote Safety Culture: HSRs help create a workplace culture that prioritises safety and health, encouraging workers to follow safe practices.
6. Training and Education: They often help educate and train fellow workers on health and safety protocols and best practices.
7. Consultation and Investigation: HSRs are consulted about proposed changes to work processes or environments that could impact worker health and safety.

HSRs is defined under workplace health and safety legislation. Workers can elect HSRs, and the employer must consult with them about safety matters. HSRs have certain powers, including the ability to issue provisional improvement notices (PINs) or stop unsafe work if a serious risk to health and safety exists.

WHS Entry Permit Holders

WHS Entry Permit Holders are individuals, usually from trade unions or health and safety organisations, who are authorised to enter a workplace to investigate health and safety issues.

Key Responsibilities of WHS Entry Permit Holders:

1. Investigate Health and Safety Issues: They can enter workplaces to investigate safety concerns raised by workers or reported issues regarding workplace health and safety.
2. Inspect Workplaces: They are authorised to inspect work sites to ensure compliance with WHS regulations, looking for potential hazards and unsafe practices.
3. Issue Notices: WHS Entry Permit Holders can issue notices, such as Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs) or even direct a work stoppage if they believe there is an immediate threat to workers’ health and safety.
4. Consult with Workers and Employers: They may consult with employees to gather information about hazards and health concerns and then raise these concerns with management.
5. Advocate for Workers: Often, these individuals represent trade unions or other worker organisations, advocating for better safety practices and conditions.

WHS Entry Permit Holder must hold an official permit ensuring they meet specific qualifications to perform this role. The purpose of WHS Entry Permit Holders is to ensure that workers’ safety is monitored and protected, especially in situations where there may be reluctance from employers to address safety concerns.

Both HSRs and WHS Entry Permit Holder roles are vital to ensuring safe work environments and fostering collaboration between workers, employers, and regulatory bodies in maintaining workplace health and safety standards.

Important changes for HSRs and WHS Entry Permit Holders

On 29 November 2024, important workplace health and safety changes commenced for Queensland’s HSRs and WHS Entry Permit Holders. The following changes have immediate effect:

Ceasing unsafe work

Health and safety representatives are now required to issue notices to cease unsafe work directly to workers, and not to a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU).

When directing workers to cease unsafe work, health and safety representatives are still required to:

• first consult with the PCBU to attempt to resolve the health and safety issue, unless it’s unreasonable to conduct consultation because of the serious and immediate nature of the risk
• prepare compliant written cease work notices
• post the notices in a prominent place for all workers to see, and
• provide a copy of the cease work notice to the PCBU.

Right of entry

WHS entry permit holders inquiring into a suspected contravention will be required to provide at least 24 hours’ notice to exercise their right of entry to a workplace, unless there is an immediate or imminent risk to the health and safety of a worker.

Guidance and support

The Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) will develop material to support Queensland workers and businesses understand these changes, including guidance on use of the amended right of entry requirements.

The first of this guidance will be made available on the WorkSafe website by the end of 2024. OIR will consult with industry and unions in early 2025 to identify any further practical elements of the right of entry requirements that would benefit from more explanation, and this will inform the development of more detailed guidance.

Sherm Software is the perfect tool to assist your HSR to fulfil their responsibilities. With the use of Workplace Inspections, Issues Management, Incident Management and Hazard Reporting Modules, identifying potential health and safety risks in the workplace is easily managed.