Why ohs consultation

It is expected that DFP Recruitment will consider the following in the event an OHS issue is reported by an on-hired employee or a client:. For further guidance refer to Safety Issue Resolution Flowchart provided on the following page. Find out more. Scope The procedure outlines the requirements for the communication of OHS information and workplace issue resolution responsibilities.

DFP Recruitment On-hired Employees DFP Recruitment on-hired employees are responsible for: Reporting workplace issues; Participating in consultation processes and communicating any relevant OHS information; and assisting where possible in the resolution process.

Allowing on-hired employees to report workplace issues; and Controlling OHS risks once they have been reported. At least half of the members of the health and safety committee must be employees and, so far as is reasonably practicable, health and safety representatives and deputy health and safety representatives.

The health and safety committee once established must meet at least once every 3 months and at any other time if at least half of its members require a meeting. The agreed process or OHS Issue Resolution Flowchart is to be communicated to all employees and displayed prominently in the school.

Designated Work Group DWG A designated work group is a group of employees in the workplace who share similar workplace health and safety concerns and conditions. In schools a DWG is defined as the whole workplace as a default. However, based on the specifics of the workplace. For example in a multi-campus secondary school, the DWG structure may altered to suit that environment, for instance one DWG for each campus. Level 3: Provide other controls e. Eliminating a risk is of course the preferred approach.

But if this is not practicable, then an employer must endeavour to minimise the risk, for example, by modifying the system of work to make it safer, isolating a hazard to a restricted work area, or modifying equipment e.

Risk management in any workplace can represent a large commitment in time and resources, and so effective management is, of course, important. The involvement of employees in the risk management process is seen as a means of improving the overall effectiveness of the process, because the employer will have the contribution of those who are actually performing the work, and in turn those employees will display an increased commitment to safety when they can see that they play a part in decision making.

The legal requirements for consultation are contained in:. The OHS Act stipulates that employers must consult with their employees to enable the employees to contribute to the making of decisions affecting their health, safety and welfare at work. The OHS Regulation provides more detailed information regarding the means by which an employer should consult its employees, and how consultation arrangements are to be implemented. The duty to consult applies to all employers, regardless of the size of the business.

The OHS Act requires employers to adopt a consultation arrangement to assist with meeting the duty to consult, and three options are given:. Because every workplace will have different factors which could influence the decision as to the most appropriate consultation arrangement for that workplace, the OHS Act also specifies that an employer must consult with employees regarding the consultation arrangement to be implemented.

This initial consultation process will require the employer to provide relevant information to employees so that they may properly consider the issues. The information may include:. The OHS Act requires that an OHS Committee must be established if the employer has 20 or more employees and the majority of those employees make a request for the establishment of a Committee.

Arrangements to elect an OHS Representative must be made if at least one employee makes a request for that to be done. The employer may agree to the election of more than one OHS Representative. VU will consult with a representative of the Students i. OHS Committees meet at least 4 times a year, with formal agendas and documented minutes being available to all in the DWG.

Each Committee has a "terms of reference" that covers the membership and function of the meeting. The expectation is that HSR's then relay that information to their colleagues.

Employees are encouraged to report hazardous situations, have input into procedures, and make suggestions on improvement to the OHS management system. View Document.