Health and safety representatives
Find out more about health and safety representatives at the University of Auckland.
What is a Health and Safety Representative?
A Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is a worker who has been elected by the members of their work group to represent them on health and safety matters.
Why is the role of a HSR important?
HSRs are the voice of the workers on health, safety and wellbeing. Through this leadership role, they play an important part in creating and supporting a culture of safety in an organisation, and work closely with senior leaders and unions to do so.
HSRs do not need to be experts in the field of health of safety; they receive formal training to enable them to support and represent workers in the workplace
Functions of HSRs
- Represent and advocate for workers on H&S matters
- Make recommendations relating to workplace H&S
- Monitor H&S measures
- Promote worker participation
- Foster positive health and safety management practices in the workplace
- Give feedback on H&S compliance
- Participate in H&S committee meetings
- Identify and bring to the employer’s attention hazards in the workplace, and discuss with the employer, the ways those hazards may be dealt with
- Promote the interests of employees in a general health and safety context
- Consult, as appropriate, with inspectors on health and safety issues
The University shall ensure the HSRs have sufficient time to undertake the role effectively.
Resources
Links
Training
Each elected HSR will receive appropriate training. This training shall include two days paid leave per year to attend an appropriate training course as part of the provisions for paid leave and notice in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Follow this link for more information on the formal HSR training requirements.
eLearning is also available by the following links below:
Number of HSRs
The aim is to have HSR coverage for all work areas and to review this annually in accordance with the University of Auckland Health, Safety and Wellbeing's Health and Safety Consultation procedure.
Election/nomination of HSRs
In accordance with the University's Health, Safety and Wellbeing policy:
- Health and safety committees of each faculty/service division and relevant unions will manage staff elections for staff health and safety HSRs for the faculty/service division health and safety committee (through HOD/departmental managers).
- Staff will have the opportunity to elect staff health and safety HSRs, in confidence, for a term of no more than three years.
Employee participation agreement
The purpose of this agreement is to improve health and safety in the workplace by promoting cooperation between the employer, employees and unions representing the employees and by ensuring all employees are provided with reasonable opportunity to participate in the ongoing management of health and safety.
This agreement is to be read in conjunction with all other health and safety provisions contained in collective or individual employment agreements.
The parties to this agreement agree that the following matters shall be the employee participation system for the purpose of complying with part 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Committee/s
The parties agree to support the continued role of the committees in accordance with the University's health and safety consultation procedures.
The procedure and supporting documents provide information on:
- Membership and functions of committees
- Frequency, notification and outcomes of committee meetings.
Review of system
This Employee Participation Agreement shall be reviewed in 12 months or more often by agreement.
Health, safety and wellbeing team
Sometimes you may need to contact the University's central team rather than a faculty or service division HSR.
For more information about the team or to contact us now: Health, safety and wellbeing team.
Document Control
Version: draft
Last Updated: Dec 2019
Next Review: Dec 2022
Owner: hsw@auckland.ac.nz
Approver: Associate Director, Health Safety & Wellbeing