Work Health And Safety Issues

Work health and safety issues that cannot be settled informally have a formal resolution process, and it is one of the least known parts of the framework.

Where a health and safety issue arises and is not resolved after reasonable discussion, the parties are generally required to follow an agreed issue resolution procedure. If none has been agreed, a default procedure set out in the regulations applies.

Two things follow that matter to employers. You should have an agreed procedure in place before an issue arises, not after. And workers, health and safety representatives and the regulator all have a role, so an unresolved issue does not simply sit.

A worker or representative can also ask the regulator to appoint an inspector where the process does not resolve it.

Safe Work Australia publishes the model laws and the default procedure. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s workplace policy templates and work health and safety course.