Consulting Workers

Workplaces where workers are involved in taking decisions about safety and health are safer and healthier. It is therefore vital that employers consult workers and their representatives (if present) on all matters that affect occupational safety and health.

Collaboration with workers helps employers to manage safety and health in a practical way by:

• helping them spot workplace risks;
• making sure safety and health controls are practical;
• increasing the level of commitment to working in a safe and healthy way;
• providing them with feedback on the effectiveness of their safety and health arrangements and control measures.

Employers must consult all their workers, in good time, on safety and health matters. In workplaces where a trade union is recognized, this will be through union safety and health representatives. In non-unionized workplaces, they can consult either directly or through other elected representatives.

Representatives’ main role is to talk to their employer about issues affecting the safety and health of workers they represent in the workplace. Employers should ensure that any representatives receive paid time off during normal working hours so they can carry out their duties. They should also receive suitable training and access to any facilities needed to help them in their role.

Consultation involves employers not only giving information to workers but also listening to them and taking account of what they say before making decisions on safety and health. Employers have to give workers or their representative’s information to allow full and effective participation in consultation.

This should include:

• risks arising from their work;
• proposals to manage and/or control these risks;
• what to do if workers are exposed to a risk;
• the best ways of providing information and training.

Find out more

1. For more information see HSE’s website Consulting and involving your workers
2. Napo in... working together