Workplace Health & Safety
Right to
a safe
workplace
This section identifies a range of workplace health and safety issues, and provides information, publications, support, OHS committee guidance and materials to members, delegates, Health and Safety Representatives, organisers and officials.
Your Rights At Work
Health & safety representatives
The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 and related regulations commenced on 1 January 2012, with a clear objective: achieving the highest possible standards of occupational health and safety.
The Act includes basic principles to guide how health and safety issues should be managed. The first principle requires that, as far as possible, avoidable risks are eliminated and unavoidable risks to the health and safety of workers are controlled and mitigated.
The Act recognises and outlines the vital role Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and Deputy HSRs play in representing the health and safety interests of workers. In every Australian jurisdiction it is widely acknowledged that HSRs make a real difference — getting health and safety matters addressed, and achieving better OHS outcomes.
To support these principles and encourage more workers to be represented on OHS issues, the Act offers options for how workers can be represented by HSRs and Deputy HSRs, provides for the involvement of workers and their representatives in health and safety decisions, and outlines a process for resolving health and safety issues.
The Unions NT Health and Safety Representative Pocketbook Guide details the setting up of designated work groups, worker representation, the election of HSRs, their roles and functions, consultation on OHS matters, and record keeping to support HSRs in performing their functions for their work group members. Its content reflects the legislation that has applied to NT industry since 1 January 2012.
Employees are entitled — and should be encouraged — to be represented on health and safety issues, whether through staff and management meetings or dedicated Health and Safety Representatives and committees.
There should be consultation and cooperation between employers, workers, and their associations, to identify, eliminate or reduce risks to health and safety.
Resource
HSR Pocketbook Guide
The Unions NT Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Pocketbook Guide is the go-to reference for anyone taking on the HSR role — reflecting the current arrangements under the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act and Regulations.
The guide details
- The setting up of designated work groups
- Workers' representation
- HSR roles and functions
- The election of HSRs and Deputy HSRs
- Consultation on OHS matters
- Record keeping to support HSRs performing their functions
Governance
Workplace health & safety advisory council
OHS useful sites and links — starting with the statutory body that keeps the Territory's work health and safety laws under review.
What is the Advisory Council?
The Work Health and Safety Advisory Council is established by the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act, which came into force on 1 January 2012.
The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General is responsible for the Workplace Health and Safety Act.
What does it do?
The Work Health and Safety Act provides the Council has the following functions —
(a)
To keep under review the operations of this Act
(b)
To make recommendations to the Minister on possible changes to the administration of the Act, or standards of work health and safety in the Territory
(c)
At the request of the Minister, to investigate and report on matters relating to work health and safety
(d)
Who are the members?
Section 4 of the Work Health and Safety Act sets out the Council's membership.
(1) The Council consists of the person constituting the Authority under the Work Health Administration Act, and not more than ten other persons appointed by the Minister.
(2) The members appointed under (1)(b) must —
(a) Include persons with a wide range of experience extending as far as possible across all major industry sectors in the Territory
(b)
October
National Safework Month — annually, Safe Work Australia uses October as a focus for workplace safety initiatives and events right across the country.