Removing asbestos in workplaces - Compliance ... - WorkSafe Victoria

IntroductionConsultation7. By law, employers must consult with employees on a range of matters thatdirectly affect (or are likely to directly affect) their health and safety, so faras is reasonably practicable.8. Consultation must involve sharing information with employees, givingemployees a reasonable opportunity to express their views and taking thoseviews into account.9. Where employees are represented by HSRs, these representatives must beinvolved in the consultation, so far as reasonably practicable.10. The law sets out specific requirements on how HSRs are to be involved inconsultation. These are:• provide HSRs with all the information about the matter that the employerprovides, or intends to provide, to employees. If it is reasonably practicable,the information must be provided to the HSRs a reasonable time before it isprovided to employees• invite the HSRs to meet with the employer to consult on the matter or meetwith the HSRs at their request• give the HSRs a reasonable opportunity to express their views on the matterand take those views into account.11. The employer must include independent contractors and their employees in theconsultation, so far as is reasonably practicable, if the employer has, or shouldhave, control of a relevant matter that affects their health and safety.12. Consultation is required when:• identifying or assessing hazards or risks• making decisions on how to control risks• making decisions about the adequacy of facilities for employee welfare (suchas dining facilities, change rooms, toilets or first aid)• making decisions about procedures to:– resolve health and safety issues– consult with employees on health and safety– monitor employee health and workplace conditions– provide information and training• determining the membership of any health and safety committee in theworkplace• proposing changes that may affect employee health and safety, such aschanges to:– the workplace– plant, substances or other things used in the workplace– the work performed at the workplace• doing any other thing prescribed by the Regulations.13. When planning to implement measures identified in this compliance code orwhen making decisions to implement alternative measures to those specified inthis compliance code, consultation must take place.4 Compliance code / Removing asbestos in workplaces WorkSafe Victoria