Employee Representation

UNIVERSITY WIDE POLICY

Occupational Health and Safety
- Employee Representation -

1. Purpose

To describe the structures in place at the University of Ballarat for giving all employees adequate representation and consultation in relation to the health and safety issues that affect them at work.

To specify the responsibilities of various groups within the University's workforce in relation to employee representation and consultation for health and safety.

2. Scope

This procedure applies to all employees of the University. It applies to all campuses, buildings and grounds of the University and to all activities associated with the work of employees.

3. Definitions

"Health and Safety Representative" (or "Representative"): an employee of the University, who has been elected to the position of Representative in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

"Designated Work Group": a group of employees, constituted in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

4. Policy Statement

All employees of the University of Ballarat have a right to effective representation on the health and safety aspects of their work. The University not only recognises that right, but promotes effective representation as an integral part of its commitment to occupational health and safety. The University will:

make time available for elected Representatives, from both the Higher Education and TAFE sectors, to:
- attend health and safety training sessions (see OHS Information Sheet - Training of Health and Safety Representatives ;
- prepare for and attend Health and Safety Team meetings;
- consult with the employees they represent, and other Representatives if necessary;
- inspect their workplace;
- participate in accident investigations and the follow up of corrective actions; and
- accompany WorkCover Field Officers who visit their Designated Work Group.
put in place health and safety consultative structures at School and Directorate level (H&S Implementation Teams);
develop and implement a procedure for the resolution of health and safety issues;
develop and implement a procedure for consultation with the Representatives of employees whose health or safety may be affected by proposed changes to the workplace;
ensure that appropriate allowances are made in the budgets of Schools and Directorates for expenses related to the resolution of health and safety issues that may arise in those Schools and Directorates and to the activities of the H&S Implementation Teams; and
monitor, in consultation with Representatives, the suitability and effectiveness of Designated Work Groups, and make changes as required.

5. Responsibility

The Vice-Chancellor of the University is ultimately responsible for the policy, and is accountable for the performance of the University in relation to this policy.

The Manager - Risk, Health & Safety is responsible for:

developing, publishing and maintaining University-wide procedures as required under this policy;
informing the University community of the policy and related procedures;
conducting training sessions to enable Managers and Representatives to fulfil the roles assigned to them by this policy and related procedures;
providing advice to Managers and Representatives as requested; and
maintaining a current list of Representatives and their Designated Work Groups.

Heads of Schools and of Directorates are responsible for creating H&S Implementation Teams, whether at their own initiative or in response to a request from a Health and Safety Representative.

Supervisors and Managers are responsible for:

attending training sessions related to the implementation of this policy and related procedures;
publicising, promoting and enforcing the policy and procedures among the staff they supervise (including new staff);
implementing the measures required for Representatives to fulfil their role, including the creation of School- and Directorate-based H&S Implementation Teams; and
complying with the policy and related procedures.

Health and Safety Representatives are responsible for consulting with the employees they serve, and accurately representing their views.

The University Health and Safety Policy Committee is responsible for monitoring the performance of all Schools and Directorates in relation to the policy and related procedures.