Geofabrics Australasia Pty Ltd – Ormeau, Queensland

I'm Mark Price. I work for Geofabrics.

I've been here about four years.

Most of that time, I've been a HSR.

I wanted to become a HSR to improve my awareness on safety, and to help others to get involved in safety at Geofabrics.

My role is to help resolve issues and any matters that the fellas might not be confident

to take to management, just to help out and to get an understanding of safety around the workplace.

My name's David Haviland and I'm the Site and Manufacturing Manager for Geofabrics, South Queensland Manufacturing.

Our HSR consultation structure began in 2018 with a request from employees to have HSRs.

At that point, the business began the journey of learning what the legislation required.

In order to organise how many HSRs we needed we consulted with the work groups that were naturally already here and were able to come up with a number that suited both the work groups and our rotating shift pattern.

The election process began by notifying the site that an election for HSRs was taking place.

We were able to provide a ballot box, ballot papers and help in the general running of the elections, while allowing them to have control of who was being nominated and who could be elected.

My name's Shaun, I'm the leading hand for the fabrication department at Geofabrics.

HSRs are a great benefit to our organisation as they're a great contact point for other workers who may be less inclined to want to raise concerns with management.

Due to the training and extra courses they do, which are paid for by the company, they become a wealth of knowledge on legislation and safe practices, which can be incorporated into the day to day running of the departments.

I'm able to support the HSR function by providing time and resources to those people in that position.

Over time, we've also been able to develop better rapport with them so that it's not just HSR is coming to us with problems, but we are able to go to them without potential problems and get their involvement and get them as a conduit through to the workers to understand the problems.

Communication is very important. I tend to get around and ask all the areas in Geofabrics, if there are any dramas problems happening that they may want to raise at the next safety committee.

But if there is an issue, I do encourage my work colleagues to come and see me and I'll document it and definitely raise it the next safety committee, or if it is serious, I'll go and see, see management and try and get something done as soon as possible.

My name is Rick Howell, I've been with Geofabrics for a little over two years.

My role in the company's production supervisor, and I'm also a member of the safety committee.

We find the safety committee is really important to us at Geofabrics.

We encourage consultation for our HSRs.

We've got two HSRs on the committee we use utilise the HSRs as a go between from the workforce.

So, they've got somebody that they can easily approach and raise any issues with HSR and will report any concerns or issues to the safety committee.

And the safety committee evaluates those and acts on and implements any decisions.

Having them represent workers in a safety committee meeting is a great benefit to the company as a whole.

As a CEO down to a new employee, we are all on the same page when it comes to safety onsite.

I see the benefits of HSRs in the workplace as being a good tool in communicating between all levels of the organisation.

The HSRs are able to talk to both management and workers about the issues that are occurring and be able to facilitate a practical solution to the problems we have.

Having HSRs is a good demonstration of our commitment to workplace health and safety.

Well, it's actually going home knowing that you've actually achieved something.

You've made the place a little bit safer and improve the health and wellbeing of everyone within the workplace.

I enjoy resolving issues that are raised and improving the safety culture at Geofabrics.

And trying to just keep everyone's awareness heightened, and everyone going goes home safe.

A person conducting a business or undertaking (otherwise known as a PCBU) has a legal duty to ensure that elected health and safety representatives or HSRs complete the regulator approved training required of the role within 28 days of being elected.

In Queensland, this is an initial five-day course followed by a one-day refresher each year.

Allow the HSR to attend the training in work time.

Pay the training fees and any other reasonable costs.

And provide paid work time to attend the training.

In line with the timeframes listed in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, a PCBU must also notify workers in writing of:

• their right to request an election for one or more HSRs
• the process for determining work groups
• who may represent the workers in negotiations about work groups
• the process for electing HSRs, and
• the powers and functions of HSRs.

As per the legislation, HSRs can perform the following functions relevant to their work group:

• inspect the workplace or part of a workplace
• accompany an inspector during an inspection of the workplace
• be present at a health and safety related interview of a worker with that worker's consent
• receive information about the health and safety of their work group
• request assistance from a suitable entity and
• request the establishment of a health and safety committee.

Under certain circumstances elected and trained HSR also have specific powers to direct unsafe work to stop and issue a provisional improvement notice otherwise known as a PIN.

Consultation with the employer is required before enacting either of these powers.

Usually, these powers are often seen as a last resort to manage serious and imminent risk or a breach of legislation.

As a PCBU the legislation states:

• you must consult with HSRs regarding health and safety issues
• prepare and maintain a list of HSRs
• provide a copy of the list to the regulator
• display a copy of the list in the workplace
• and display a pin. As soon as practical after its issue.

Penalties do apply for failure to comply with these requirements.

If you need more help with HSRs or worker consultation in general, refer to the Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice 2021 and other guidance material on the WorkSafe Queensland website.

For small businesses you can also refer to the safety fundamentals toolkit on the WorkSafe Queensland website.

HSR Direct is a free telephone advisory service available to elected and trained HSRs who have specific safety enquiries.

HSR Direct can be contacted through Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on 1300 633 419.

If you are a PCBU needing assistance with setting up effective worker consultation systems in your workplace,

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland offers the Injury Prevention and Management Program or IPAM.

IPaM is a free advisory service provided to Queensland businesses who need assistance with their work, health, safety and injury management systems.

You can register for the IPaM program on the WorkSafe Queensland website at WorkSafe.qld.gov.au.

Or email direct to whsqadvisoryfieldservices@oir.qld.gov.au