Safety and health committees

Safety and health committees provide agencies with an opportunity for senior management and representatives of employees to regularly discuss and make discussions about occupational safety and health issues within the workplace.

In accordance to Section 40 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 the functions of the safety and health committee are:

• providing consultation and cooperation between the employer and employee;
• initiating, developing and implementing safety and health measures;
• keeping informed about safety and health standards in similar workplaces;
• making recommendations on safety and health rules, programs, measures and procedures at the workplace;
• ensuring information on hazards is kept where it is readily accessible;
• considering and making recommendations about changes that may affect the safety and health of employees;
• considering matters referred to it by safety and health representatives; and
• performing other functions prescribed in the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 or given to the committee with the consent, by the employer.

WorkSafe has a bulletin on establishing safety and health committees.