All You Need to Know About Being a Health & Safety Representative

Are you a Safety Representative at your place of work? Or perhaps you have recently heard about this responsibility and want to know more about the role?

At Pivotal Scotland, we provide expert training for Health and Safety Representatives, Safety Committee members, employee representatives and their managers.

Our team of chartered practitioners and registered consultants offer the very best training that will expedite your eligibility to become a Safety Representative and broaden your knowledge on health and safety in the work place.

Below we have outlined some of the key need-to-knows on our Safety Representative course.

A Brief History of the Safety Representative

In 1974, the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) introduced the requirement for employees to be consulted on health and safety issues via appointed Health and Safety Representatives (H&S Reps) that have been appointed by the Trade Union (TU). The role and functions of TU appointed safety reps was elaborated upon by the introduction of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (SRSCR).

However, HASAWA’s reference to H&S Reps is limited to workplaces where the Trade Union is recognised by the employer. So, what about companies that don’t recognise the TU?

Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996

In 1996, legislation was introduced for non-unionised workplaces, known as Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations. Our course focuses on the legislation from 1996: H&S (CWU) Regs. The official term for non-unionised Safety Representatives as set out by the 1996 legislation is “Representative of Employee Safety” (ROES).

What Is Required?

This legislation does not state that the employer has to appoint Reps, however, many employers choose to mirror the approach set out by the 1977 regulations.

More importantly, the key element in the H&S (CWU) Regs is that the employer must consult with employees on H&S issues, whether there is a rep or not.

It is common for employers to appoint representatives and form a H&S committee.

Safety Representative Course Run by Pivotal Scotland

Our course content focuses on the role and responsibilities of the ROES, and in doing so teaches participants about:

• Working safely
• Ensuring there is a satisfactory health and safety management system (Plan Do Check Act)
• Hazard spotting
• Accident Investigation
• Accident Reporting and RIDDOR
• Communication and co-operation
• Being an important link between the management and the workforce

Why Choose Pivotal Scotland as Your Safety Representative Training Provider?

As long as you have been elected as a ROES, you have the legal right to take time off to be trained in Health and Safety. Although, as we all know, it can be difficult to find a suitable time for you and your company to travel to a training provider. Fortunately, if you choose Pivotal Scotland as your Safety Representative training provider, we will deliver this essential course at your premises. You will complete this course within one day and pick up all the vital skills required to be a successful Safety Representative.

Are you ready to get started? Enquire now or visit the Safety Representative page to learn more.

Training is an investment for success