Engage with workers and enable their participation
A PCBU has two main duties related to worker engagement and participation:
- to engage with workers on health and safety matters that affect or are likely to affect workers, so far as is reasonably practicable, and
- to have practices that give workers reasonable opportunities to participate effectively in the ongoing improvement of work health and safety.
![[image] Worker engagement and participation diagram](/assets/Managing-health-and-safety/Volunteers/worker-engagement-and-participation-diagram.jpg)
A PCBU can engage with workers by:
- sharing information about health and safety matters so that workers are well-informed, know what is going on and can contribute to decision-making
- giving workers reasonable opportunities to have a say about health and safety matters
- listening to and considering what workers have to say at each step of the risk management process
- considering workers’ views when health and safety decisions are being made
- updating workers about what decisions have been made.
A PCBU must engage with workers during specified times, including when identifying hazards and assessing risks.
A PCBU must have clear, effective, and ongoing ways for workers to suggest improvements or raise concerns.
Worker representation
Workers can be represented by a Health and Safety Representative (HSR), a union representing workers, or a person that workers authorise to represent them (for example, a community or church leader, or another trusted member of the community).
HSRs and Health and Safety Committees (HSCs) are two well-established methods of participation and representation. If workers are represented by an HSR, worker engagement must also involve that representative.
For more information
WorkSafe guidance
Good practice guidelines
Worker engagement, participation and representation
Interpretive guidelines
Worker representation through Health and Safety Representatives and Health and Safety Committees
Pamphlets
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