A Health and Safety Representative (H & S Rep) has a vital role to play in protecting the health and safety of everyone at the workplace. Having a designated person on the site to deal with any concerns about workplace hazards demonstrates to workers that the employer is committed to protecting them.
Many small businesses that are not large enough to require a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) rely on their H & S Rep to bring forward any health and safety issues that need attention. Unfortunately, many H & S Reps do not have the necessary training to recognize or resolve these issues.
The consequences of not having a well-trained H & S Rep are seen too often. Workers can suffer lost income or a lower quality of life due to a critical injury. Families can lose a loved one to a workplace fatality. Employers can lose a valuable employee and production days. They may even have to replace damaged material and equipment and pay higher compensation costs.
A Health and Safety Rep is required when:
More than 5 and less than 20 workers are regularly employed at the workplace
OR
More than 5 workers are regularly
employed at a construction project and the work is expected to last less than 3
months.