Health and Safety Representatives and Health and Safety Committees - Code of Practice for
This code of practice was issued by the Department of Labour following extensive discussions at meetings of the Advisory Council for Occupational Safety and Health (ACOSH) and a working party comprising Employers' Federation and Federation of Labour representatives and Department of Labour officials.
The code provides
for the election, functions, rights and obligations of employee health
and safety representatives and the establishment, membership, functions
and procedures of joint employer/employee health and safety committees.
The code is issued pursuant to section 50 of the Factories and Commercial
Premises Act 1981 and as such constitutes the recommendations of
the Chief Inspector of Factories on voluntary health and safety representatives
and committees in undertakings covered by the Act. It also serves as a
guide in workplaces covered by other legislation.
Table of Contents
PART 1: BACKGROUND
1.1 Introduction
1.2 The need for consultative mechanisms in the workplace for health
and safety issues
1.3 Definitions
PART 2: THE HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE
2.1 Designated work groups and designated work areas
2.2 Election of health and safety representatives
2.3 Term of appointment of health and safety representatives
PART 3: FUNCTIONS, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
3.1 Inspections and investigations
3.2 Availability of information
3.3 Making representations to the employer
3.4 Immediate and serious dangers
3.5 Advising and assisting employees
3.6 Technical advisers
3.7 Accompanying inspectors
3.8 Maintenance of the accident information system
3.9 Obligations of health and safety representatives
3.10 Training of health and safety representatives
PART 4: THE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
4.1 Establishment of a committee
4.2 Membership of committees
4.3 Management representatives
4.4 Employee representatives
4.5 Functions of the health and safety committee
4.6 Functions of committee members
4.7 Committee procedures
PART 5: THE ROLE OF EMPLOYERS
5.1 Obligations of employers
5.2 Non-discrimination against health and safety representatives
APPENDIX ONE
Relevant extracts from the Factories and Commercial Premises Act 1981
and the Machinery Act 1950
APPENDIX TWO
Records of accidents
