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This section contains information on safety representation including:
and
Why have a safety representative in your business?
Why be a safety representative?
What the law says
A safety representative will represent their colleagues in consultations with their employer on safety, health and welfare at their workplace and in the role are entitled to receive information and to carry out inspections and investigations.
Information on these functions is given below. You can also see publications for more detailed information on consultation in the workplace and the role of safety representatives
Represent their colleagues in consultations with their employer on safety, health and welfare in their workplace
Receive advice and information from Health & Safety Authority (HSA) Inspectors in relation to safety, health and welfare in the workplace
Consult and liaise with other safety representatives in the same workplace
Carry out an inspection at a frequency or on a schedule agreed with the employer
Inspect the whole or part of the workplace, having given reasonable notice to their employer
Carry out an inspection following an accident, dangerous occurrence or imminent risk
The inspections carried out may include a review of documentation as well as a walkabout
Have an opportunity following inspection to discuss the safety, health and welfare matters in confidence with the safety committee or employees that they represent
Accompany an Inspector from the Health & Safety Authority when inspecting the workplace
At the discretion of the HSA Inspector, may be present when an employee is being interviewed about an accident or dangerous occurrence
A safety representative can carry out an inspection following an accident or dangerous occurrence in the workplace to help identify any necessary remedial or preventative measures, but:
Safety representatives must not interfere with anything at the scene of an accident or dangerous occurrence
Safety representatives must not obstruct an investigation being carried out by a Health & Safety Authority Inspector
Safety representatives and members of any safety committe must be given the information they need so that they can fulfil their functions properly
This 2 minute video explains safety representation in the workplace
Short Video explaining Step 3 of the BeSMART.ie process to generate a safety statement: consultation of employers with their employees.
In addition to helping employers to generate a safety statement for their business, BeSMART.ie is also a resource for information on workplace safety, health and welfare that is available to all.
Safety Representatives can use BeSMART.ie to get very useful information.
Within the Learn More section of BeSMART.ie you can find guidance material on a variety of workplace hazards, including on the hazards that most commonly lead to accidents and ill health: Electricity, Fire, Manual Handling, Slips / Trips / Falls, Chemicals, Work at Height, Workplace Transport, Display Screen Equipment, and Maintenance.
For example:
Top Tips, Practical Guidance and Information Sheets on Common Hazards
Short Videos on Top Tips for Managing Common Hazards
Construction Tool Box Talk Pack
'Give Me the Short Version' Videos on Risk Assessment, Safety Statement and Use of BeSMART.ie
Forms, Templates and Checklists
Publications
− Other Small Businesses (Retail, Hospitality, Services, Manufacturing and more)
2. Checklists for the following can be found in the Safety Representatives Resource Book:
Use the elearning tab at the top of the page or visit hsalearning.ie for a range of FREE elearning courses, including the two courses outlined below:
This short animated course introduces employees, including those thinking of becoming a safety representative or member of the safety committee, to an overview of the safety and health requirements in the workplace. It presents learners with an outline of the main duties of employers and explains the duties of employees under Irish health and safety law. It also explains the important role that employees have in regard to safety and health in the workplace and on consulting with your employer on health and safety matters.
The content of the course is suitable across all industry sectors.
All you have to do is register, take the course whenever you wish and then download your certificate of completion when finished. You can also register a group of employees to take the course.
Use the elearning tab at the top of the page to access the course or visit hsalearning.ie
This FREE 30minute course is designed for new and existing safety representatives. It is also suitable for employers, employees, safety committee members and health and safety practitioners. The aim of the course is to raise awareness of the role of a safety representative, and to provide health and safety information relevant to this role.
This course does not replace training but provides information that may be useful as part of the training process.
This short course for safety representatives is supported by ICTU and IBEC.
Use the elearning tab at the top of the page to access the course or visit hsalearning.ie
You can download and print this poster to encourage communication and consultation in the workplace and to help make employees aware of their Safety Representative
Working Together Poster (PDF, 2MB)
If you can't find the information you are looking for or have any questions:
Contact the HSA's Workplace Contact Unit by email wcu@hsa.ie or telephone 1890 289 389
You can sign up to receive the Health & Safety Authority's newsletter and / or the chemical e-bulletin.
Find out more and sign up here
Safety Representatives Resource Book (PDF, 1.56MB)