Safety and health representatives
Welcome to the safety and health representatives section of the website.
- Electing safety and health representatives and committees
- Training for safety and health representatives and committees
- Support and resources for safety and health representatives and committee members
- Provisional Improvement Notices (PINS)
- Information for Registered Training Providers
- Frequently asked questions
Electing safety and health representatives and committees
The overall benefit of safety and health representatives and safety and health committees is that they provide proactive, systematic ways for dealing with issues, rather than a reactive approach dealing with them as they arise.
The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health Guidance note Formal consultative processes in the workplace contains information about how to establish safety and health representatives and committees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
The Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 require the person coordinating the election of representatives to notify the WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner of the results. Use the notification of election and registration of safety and health representative’s form.
Training for safety and health representatives and committees
A safety and health representative may nominate the accredited introductory training course they want to attend. Safety and health representative training courses which have been accredited by the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health in accordance with the Western Australian Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 can be found here.
After completion of the introductory training course safety and health representatives may formally request the training provider to be assessed against competency units from the Certificate III in Occupational Health and Safety.
Support and resources for safety and health representatives and committee members
4Thought information sessions
WorkSafe holds lunchtime information sessions throughout the metropolitan area. These sessions are free of charge and cover a range of occupational safety and health topics. Bring your lunch and participate in a session which we hope will make you think about safety issues at your workplace.
Keep up-to-date with WorkSafe's mailing lists.
WorkSafe has several free mailing lists available for subscription. These lists are used by WorkSafe to distribute the latest issues and updates concerning the lists' relevant interests. All that is required to subscribe is an email address.
Work Safe Forums
Work Safe Forums are presented by WorkSafe, the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health and WorkCover Western Australia.
The annual regional and metropolitan WorkSafe forums provide Safety and health representatives with an opportunity to update their knowledge of occupational safety and health topics and broaden their network with others who share an interest in safety at work.
Safe Work Australia Week
Safe Work Australia Week is about preventing workplace incidents and managing injuries. During the week, WorkSafe encourages Western Australian workplaces, occupational safety and health organisations and practitioners to have an extra focus on safety and health.
Workplaces right across Australia get involved by organising events and activities during the week.
Community education officers
Safety and health representatives are offered support through WorkSafe's community education officers. The community education officers are available to come to your workplace to give talks on the role of WorkSafe, to explain the obligations of employers and employees under the Act, and to promote the role of safety and health representatives. They also provide direct assistance with any queries you may have.
Contact Community Education Officers on email shreps@commerce.wa.gov.au or by telephone on 93278777.
Useful publications and checklists
The following list of publications are helpful for safety and health representative to be aware of.
Provisional improvement notices (PINs)
Qualified safety and health representatives may issue provisional improvement notices, as outlined in WorkSafe bulletin 2/2005 Provisional improvement notices.
This form may be used to issue a PIN.
Further information how to complete a PIN form, can be found here.
This form may be used to request the review of a provisional improvement notice issued by a qualified safety and health representative.
Information for registered training providers
Information for Registered Training Providers regarding the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health accredited courses can be found here
Frequently asked questions
- Who should I contact if I have a question about being a safety and health representative?
- What happens when I register with WorkSafe as a safety and health rep?
- If I am re-elected for a second term what do I have to do?
More frequently asked questions about safety and health representatives can be found here.