Comcare - Australian Goverment
Comcare - Australian GovermentComcare - Australian Goverment

Workplace consultative arrangements

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (OHS Act) emphasises consultation and cooperation between employers and employees in regard to OHS issues by requiring the establishment of a framework incorporating:

  • Health and safety management arrangements (HSMAs)
  • Designated work groups (DWGs)
  • Health and safety representatives (HSRs), and
  • Health and safety committees.

An overview of the legislative provisions can be found in the publication:

Employers looking for information on how to carry out their responsibilities under the OHS Act should refer to:

Employees looking for tailored information on the important role they play can refer to:

Health and safety management arrangements

Health and safety management arrangements (HSMAs) are a set of written documents concerning the management of OHS in an organisation. Employers must develop written HSMAs in consultation with their employees. Employees can be represented in these consultations by another employee, or by an employee representative.

Designated work groups

A designated work group (DWG) is a group of employees whose composition is determined through consultation with employees. The number of employees in each group will depend on the nature of the employer's business and geographic distribution. DWGs are established for the purpose of selecting health and safety representatives (HSRs).

Health and safety representatives

The OHS Act provides for health and safety representatives (HSRs) to represent the interests of employees. The HSR has a broad range of powers for the purpose of promoting health and safety at work of the employees in the DWG.

Health and safety committee

Health and safety committees (HSCs) are comprised of both employer representatives and members representing employees. The role of HSCs is to facilitate cooperation between the employer and their employees regarding OHS. While some matters relating to the operation of HSCs are specified in the OHS Act, most aspects of how an organisation's HSCs operate should be outlined in an organisation's HSMAs.

Not all employers are required to establish HSCs. Where an employer normally does not have less than 50 employees then they must establish a HSC. Where an employer has specific workplaces that normally do not have less than 50 employees an employer must also establish a HSC for that workplace when requested by either a HSR or the majority of employees at the workplace.

Where HSCs are established it is important that they are effective and Comcare has developed the guide: