HSRs are making your workplace healthier and safer

Sam Gibberd, RMIT University

I'm a Librarian at RMIT University as well as being the NTEU Branch President. As if I didn't already have enough hats on, I became a health and safety representative (HSR) just over a year ago. Learning more about occupational health & safety (OHS), legislation, and the powers of an HSR was a primary driver in taking on the HSR position, as I found I fielded questions constantly about OHS through my role as Branch President.

As a relatively new HSR, the last thing I was expecting to be dealing with was the impacts of a global pandemic. COVID-19 even managed to affect my HSR training, when all courses shifted to online delivery last year. I would say that the online model worked well even if the days were long. I attended the Trades Hall OHS Course and it was excellent (shoutout to Vasso Zangalis!).

One of the key messages I heard loud and clear early on is that as an HSR, you have all the power and none of the responsibility. It’s a good way to consider the role and how it intersects in the workplace.

You are there to provide oversight, ensure employees views are taken into account, and make sure health and safety is taken seriously at all times.

When this isn't happening – you have the power to force the employer to act. There are many situations in the workplace that can feel frustrating when things that need to get done get ignored. The OHS space simply isn't one of them and the HSR welds power and authority when and where its needed.

Working in a university means this relationship is usually pretty civil and OHS is for the most part, handled well. One downside though, is what I would describe as complacency within the organisation about the importance of HSRs and the difficulty in getting people to take the role on.

Last year, RMIT had over half of the HSR positions sitting vacant and pushing the University to do something about it and NTEU members to take up the roles became a priority for our Branch.

Leaving OHS matters to an employer to deal with can and does creates problems. We simply must make sure that as employees (and especially as NTEU members) we use all avenues available to us to have a voice in the workplace.

If you have vacant HSR positions in your area or no HSR, call a local meeting and get the ball rolling to fill the position ASAP. You have the right to do this under the OHS Act.

Workplace leaders take on many forms. Maybe the role of HSR is something you might want to consider? I'd encourage anyone with an interest in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace to go and speak to an HSR about the role and hear first hand.

It's a vital role that you will learn a lot from as well as be able to support your colleagues.

As the Victorian Trades Hall says in the intro to their excellent annotated version of the OHS Act 2004: 'The best outcomes are achieved when everybody is in the union backing each other up and taking action to make their workplace healthier and safer'.

There are many situations in the workplace that can feel frustrating when things that need to get done get ignored. The OHS space simply isn't one of them and the HSR welds power and authority when and where its needed.

Andrea Bellucci/Unsplash