What Is a Safety Representative? And What Do They Do?

Health and safety representatives have a vital role and legal functions to play in the workplace. A Safety Representative (sometimes shortened to “safety rep”) is an individual selected or elected to represent employees on matters concerning health and safety at work. The work they do benefits everyone in their organisation, both union and non-union workers.

The number of safety reps and the areas they cover are usually agreed upon by your employer.

Roles of Safety Representatives in the Workplace

The role of Safety Representative is covered by various health and safety laws, recognising the need for work participation and creating safe working environments.

In the UK, the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 and the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 outline the duties and rights of safety reps. With these two pieces of legislation in mind, you can split them into two camps.

Different Types of Safety Representatives

It is important to distinguish between Safety Representatives and Representatives of Employee Safety. Although it might sound like splitting hairs, the roles differ greatly in the help they can offer you. Safety representatives are selected by a recognised trade union, whereas Representatives of Employee Safety are elected by employees.

Union Safety Representatives are able to:

• Investigate hazards and dangerous occurrences, the causes of accidents, and members' complaints.
• Carry out inspections three monthly with notice after a substantial change or following a RIDDOR report.
• Make representations to the employer.
• Consult with and receive information from inspectors.
• Attend safety committee meetings.
• Inspect and take copies of any relevant documentation.

Representatives of Employee Safety are able to:

• Make representations to the employer on potential hazards and dangerous occurrences at the workplace.
• Make representations to the employer on general matters affecting the health and safety at work of employees.
• Represent the group of employees in consultation with enforcement officers.

As you can see here, the clear-cut difference is the fact that certain representatives can participate in and inspect certain health and safety processes within an organisation.

When Should You Consult a Safety Representative?

Safety reps of any kind can be consulted on a variety of different matters. For example, you can consult them on any change that substantially affects health and safety, e.g., new or different procedures, new equipment, or new shift patterns. They can also be consulted on the arrangements for appointing competent person(s) to help meet health and safety obligations e.g. health and safety advisors.

Other matters they can be consulted on include:

• Information on the likely risks in the workplace and the precautions to be taken.
• Planning of health and safety training.
• Health and safety consequences of new technology.

Trade union safety reps are entitled to training, during working hours, at the employer’s expense. The trade union will often make the necessary arrangements for training safety representatives (SR); however, the employer can make equivalent arrangements.

Representatives of employee safety (RES) should be provided with time off with pay to undergo training that is reasonable in all the circumstances.

One example of training for either of these roles is the Astutis Safety for Representatives course linked below. The course covers all the essential and legal elements needed for safety reps.

Upon completion of the course, delegates will be better able to define hazard and risk, identify a range of common workplace hazards, contribute to improving safety performance, undertake the role and functions of safety representatives (SR) and representatives of employee safety (RES), and contribute to safety committees.