SafetyMAP:Auditing Health & Safety ... - WorkSafe Victoria

PART 2: AUDIT CRITERIA3.4 Consultation, communication andreporting - ConsultationThe participation of employees and theirinput to the health and safety decisionmaking process is fundamental to thesuccessful implementation andsustainability of an effective health andsafety management system.All employees should be encouraged tocontribute to health and safety activitiesrelated to their work. Employee involvementin the hazard identification, riskassessment and risk control process isessential for effective management ofhealth and safety risk. Employees alsoneed to be involved when changes areproposed in their work areas, includingdiscussions and trials of new equipmentand other purchases.Employee health and safety representativesare selected or elected by employees.Representation should cover as manysituations as are appropriate to the size ofthe organization, e.g. representatives forworkers on different shifts, at differentwork sites and having different workdescriptions. All employees should knowtheir relevant health and safetyrepresentative.An active consultation process shows theworkforce that the organization iscommitted to achieving the aims of thehealth and safety policy.3.4.1 There are documented procedures,agreed to by employees, for employeeinvolvement and consultation on healthand safety matters, including a procedurefor dealing with health and safety issues,and resolving disputes if they arise.3.4.2 The organization, in consultation withemployees, has determined the numberof employee representatives requiredto effectively represent all employeework groups.3.4.3 The consultative arrangements allow theemployees to select those who willrepresent them on health and safetymatters.3.4.4 Details of the consultative arrangements,including the names of their employeeand employer representatives for healthand safety matters, are communicated toemployees.3.4.5 Employees or their representatives areinvolved in the development,implementation and review of proceduresfor the identification of hazards and theassessment and control of risks.3.4.6 Employees or their representatives areconsulted regarding proposed changes tothe work environment, processes orpractices and purchasing decisions thatcould affect their health and safety.3.4.7 Health and safety consultative committeesmeet regularly and minutes of meetingsare available to all employees.20PART 2: AUDIT CRITERIA