On Wednesday, 17 July, SafeWork NSW will conduct a complimentary forum in Orange, hosting close to 100 Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to further their understanding of workplace consultation. SafeWork’s gathering, spread out between 9am to 1pm at the Waratah Sports Club located at 34 Telopea Way in Orange, aims providing attendees with practical guidelines on carrying out effective consultation within organisations. By resolving issues and managing prevalent workplace hazards like falls, forklift mishaps, electrical problems, bullying, and violence, it reinforces the use of vital work safety products, such as WHS management systems.
Available to all industries, the forum focuses on addressing major harms and underscores the essential elements of workplace consultation. These insightful sessions have already taken place in locations like Wollongong, Tamworth, Cooma, and Albury, extending an invitation for workers outside city centres to actively participate, network, and stay updated with the latest from SafeWork NSW.
Elected representatives, including HSRs, are tasked with voicing workers’ concerns on health and safety, which they fulill dutifully under the binds of WHS legislation. They occupy a strategic position in obtaining crucial information regarding the welfare and safety risks inherent to their respective working groups. Through products like a Bluesafe SWMS or Bluesafe WHS Management System, businesses can uphold their role effectively and facilitate continuous discussions relating to workforce health and safety matters.
The Superintendent of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin, emphasised that under the New South Wales Work Health and Safety Act, it is mandatory for those leading a business or enterprise to involve their employees, who may be potentially impacted, in health and safety conversations. With their pivotal role in discerning and elevating workplace hazards on behalf of their group, Health and Safety Representatives actively foster an open and constructive safety culture. Providing these forums in regional areas like Orange ensures they remain accessible to the regional workforce, offering them chances to engage, connect, and receive up-to-date information from SafeWork NSW to fulfil their responsibilities.
Original article link: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-media-releases/100-local-health-and-safety-reps-to-attend-consultation-in-orange