WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS IT COME OF AGE? AS WE strive to reach some form of normality after the initial COVID-19 disruptions we all have a heightened sense of awareness with regard to workplace health and safety, especially in our sector. There have been a number of noted upsides to the pandemic such as the introduction of universal hand washing and sick people staying at home, and we can now put WHS awareness on that list. Whether it be the supply and use of PPE and sanitiser or the reporting of hazards or - dare we say it, hazardous persons - WHS seems to be finally gaining its rightful position as everyone’s best friend. An integral part of building on this trend is to have in place the kinds of supports required to implement, monitor and review WHS management systems to make sure they're not only effective but 100% appropriate for all work areas. To this end, what we need to be mindful of is to have effective and diligent health & safety representatives (HSR) and work health & safety committee (WHSC) members.
In the past, some people in these positions of responsibility were perhaps left untrained and unsupported leading to poor performance in the role. As we move into an uncertain, and still potentially lethal, new COVID-19 landscape we need to do all we can to be prepared and to remain safe. Ideally all work areas should have at least one HSR and all departments should have a WHSC that truly reflects the workforce.
Having a toolbox meeting where nobody has an item to raise is far better than no meeting at all. So if you feel you're not being well represented by an existing HSR then remind them of their responsibilities. If that doesn’t work, and they've been elected for more than three years, ask your HACSU delegate or organiser about how to have a spill of positions and a new election.
That is, the committee should include management, workers and HSRs to ensure a more holistic, balanced view.
Similarly, your work health & safety committee should be opened up to new nominations every three years, although in reality very few are, but that's no reason to not campaign for a fresh committee.
WHSC meetings should be held more, not less often, and short 'toolbox meetings' between workers and supervisors should be at least weekly if not daily.
The bottom line is people are in these important positions to represent and protect you and your colleagues, and that's what they should be doing.
These are often held before shifts to raise current issues and immediate hazards, PPE, first aid, daily tasks etc. A lot can happen in a health care setting in a week as all HACSU members are well aware.
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