About health and safety reps (HSRs)

The elected health and safety representative acts on behalf of the designated workgroup (DWG).

The HSR is entitled to:

Inspect any part of the workplace where DWG members work
Accompany a WorkSafe inspector during their inspection
Request the establishment of a Health and Safety Committee
Be present at any interview between an inspector and an employee who requests their support
Bring in outside assistance
Issue a Provisional Improvement Notice after consultation with the person to whom the notice is to be issued
Access to information held by the employer relating to actual or potential hazards and the health and safety of employees (but not personal information unless the employee consents)
Take time off work to perform their functions
Take time off work to attend approved training courses
Order that work shall cease‚ after consultation‚ in the event of an immediate threat or danger
Not be dismissed or otherwise discriminated against simply because they are carrying out their role.

For a copy of the HSR Recruitment Kit containing FAQ sheets on the role and election of the HSR‚ please call the MSU on (03) 9417 2822.

Download the AEU's Health and Safety Rep's Handbook (PDF 417.29KB)

HSR rights and responsibilities

The OHS Act sets out very clearly the HSR's rights and responsibilities‚ but from time to time these can be confused with the duties that the Health and Safety Officer has in law.

Here is a summary of the two roles:

Health and Safety Representative	Health and Safety Officer
Called the health and safety rep or HSR	Can be called health and safety officer, manager, adviser or co-ordinator
Elected by members of the designated workgroup	Nominated by the principal/manager
Represents all members of the designated workgroup	Represents the employer
Has a major role to play in bringing health and safety issues to the attention of the employer	Is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004; ie, for providing a healthy and safe workplace
May be any member of staff but should not be member of the principal class (schools) or senior manager (centres)	Should be the principal/manager or assistant principal/manager
Not required to physically repair or remove hazards or to have all the answers on health and safety matters	Is responsible for organising repairs and removing hazards and ensuring that safety procedures and regulations are followed
Entitled to attend an accredited 5-day training course with time off work to attend	Should attend accredited 5-day training course but no entitlement under the Act
Entitled to appropriate paid time off work to undertake role	Undertakes as part of management responsibilities. No entitlement under the Act to specific paid time off
Has prescribed rights and powers under the Act but no duties	Has no specific rights or powers under the Act but a range of duties and liabilities as outlined in the Act
May issue a Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) after consultation about the hazard with the principal/manager.	May receive a PIN and needs to act on it or appeal against it‚ but cannot issue a PIN
Cannot be directed to undertake any task relating to health and safety‚ but can be required to consult with the principal/manager before undertaking certain activities	Required to consult with the HSR on a range of activities (eg, changes to workplace arrangements‚ inspections‚ investigations)
No liability for health and safety in the workplace, as no duties imposed under the Act	Liable for health and safety in the role of principal/manager or representative of the principal/manager

Download this table as a PDF (70KB)