The Role and Responsibilities of Health and Safety Representatives in the Workplace

It is widely recognised that businesses should have Health and Safety Representatives in place. These representatives’ roles and functions are valuable to all employers, as they play a key part in promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

Health and Safety Representatives have a range of responsibilities that, when carried out correctly and in accordance with legal requirements, help employers provide and sustain a safe working environment. The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out specific requirements regarding the election, designation, and functions of Health and Safety Representatives.

Legally, employers with more than 20 employees must appoint a Health and Safety Representative in writing. The law also specifies that at least one representative must be appointed for every 50 employees (for example, a workplace with 51 employees must have two representatives).

So, what exactly does the law require these representatives to do, and what are their key responsibilities?

Functions of Health and Safety Representatives:

1. To review the effectiveness of Health and Safety measures
2. To identify potential hazards on the work premises
3. To identify potential incidents at the workplace
4. To examine the causes of accidents/incidents at the workplace
5. To investigate complaints by any employee relating to Health and Safety
6. To make representations to the employer or a Health and Safety committee on matters arising from the above, or where such representations are unsuccessful, to an inspector.
7. To make representations to the employer on general matters affecting the health or safety of the employees at the workplace
8. To inspect the workplace, including any article, substance, plant, machinery or Health and Safety equipment at that workplace with a view to the Health and Safety of employees, at such intervals as may be agreed upon with the employer
9. To participate in consultations with inspectors at the workplace and accompany inspectors on inspections of the workplace
10. To receive information from inspectors as contemplated in section 36 of the OHSA
11. To attend meetings of the Health and Safety committee of which the Health and Safety representative is a member, in connection with any of the above functions

The employer must ensure that all Health and Safety Representatives have the necessary facilities, support, and training to carry out their duties effectively. For more detailed information and guidance, please refer to the SIZA Guideline on Health and Safety Management in Agriculture, available on your MySIZA profile.