Ensuring safety at work is a top priority for many individuals and organisations, and a health and safety representative is essential. If you do not currently have one at your workplace, it could be wise to choose one now, says Safewise consultant Kaye Byrne.

Everyone has the right to be safe at work; it’s simple to state, but what steps do we take to make it happen? According to First Union, a health and safety representative is one of the most essential components in creating a secure work environment. This worker, chosen by their colleagues, can bring up official health and safety concerns to their employer. And even though it might be an unknown term for many, there is a legal requirement for most workplaces to possess them.

Additionally, a health and safety representative might be key in preventing your workplace from experiencing a tragic work accident. New Zealand has strong health and safety legislation compared with other countries, but this has not always been the case. Official reports after the 2010 Pike River disaster revealed findings that resulted in strengthened workplace health and safety regulations. Post-disaster reports revealed that Pike River employees had voiced health and safety issues regarding their workplace but lacked the means to address them. To cover these gaps in the industry, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 granted employees the entitlement to a health and safety representative, along with several additional measures.

Any employee can request a health and safety representative at their job, but if your workplace employs over 20 people or is in a high-risk sector, it is mandatory to have a worker representative, and an election must be held to select them.

The legislation also specifies that the PCBU – “the person conducting the business or undertaking”, typically refering to the employer – is accountable for maintaining the health and safety of employees. Maintaining a safe work environment is certainly in their best interests, as they could be held responsible if something goes awry. All employees should know who the organisation’s health and safety representative is.

Although you aren’t required to be a designated health and safety representative to express worries or decline tasks you find hazardous, the official rep possesses greater authority. They may provide notifications for violations of health and safety, which are forwarded to the PCBU and WorkSafe for review. They can instruct other employees to halt unsafe activities until the issues are addressed. Crucially, they serve as an official channel for the problems of their colleagues as well.

After selecting a representative, the employer is required to cover the cost of two full days of authorised training annually, which must be conducted during paid hours. The representative may also decide the location for the training.

Your PCBU is whom you should talk to when it comes to implementing a health and safety representative in your workplace, and there is no time like the present to have that conversation.