Consulting reps can boost safety

Worker representation and consultation can play a significant role in improving health and safety at work, according to new research carried out for the HSE.

The role and effectiveness of safety representatives in influencing workplace health and safety, a report by David Walters and others at Cardiff University, found that health and safety improved if workers were consulted adequately (generally through union safety reps).

The researchers found that worker representation and consultation on health and safety could operate effectively only if there was:

* a strong legislative steer;

* effective external inspection and control;

* demonstrable senior management commitment to health and safety, and a participative approach and sufficient capacity to adopt and support this type of management;

* competent hazard/risk evaluation and control;

* effective autonomous worker representation at the workplace and external trade union support; and

* consultation and communication between worker representatives and their constituencies.

"Worker representation and consultation in the UK have a significant role to play in improving health and safety at work," the researchers concluded. "They have the potential to raise health and safety awareness amongst both workers and managers, effect improvement in arrangements for managing health and safety, improve the practical implementation of these arrangements, and contribute to improved health and safety performance. Most importantly, they represent means by which workers' voice can be heard and acted upon to the benefit of those that experience the risks of the production process."

The report is to be published this summer, and will be available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk