A Health and Safety Representative, or HSR, is a worker who has been elected to represent the health and safety interests of their work group.

Work health and safety is critical to any workplace in Australia. The Health and Safety Representative (HSR) training provides a wide range of learning outcomes aimed to identify and address safety issues faced in the workplace.

You become a health and safety representative within your workplace by being elected by the workers in your work group.

As the representative, you can act for and represent people in your work group. The work group members will elect a representative to take on the role of HSR.

Workers only elect a HSR within the workplace after an agreement on the number and make up of work groups has been reached. All work group members are entitled to vote for one or more HSRs and deputy HSRs for a three-year term.

Health and Safety Representatives are not mandatory. However a person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) must begin negotiations of work groups within 14 days of receiving a request from a worker.

The HSR must be elected from the workers in the work group. The PCBU must provide resources, facilities and assistance that is reasonably necessary for elections to be conducted.

The WHS Act allows for workers within a business or undertaking to be grouped into work groups for the purpose of electing a member of that group to represent them.

The number of work groups and the workers who form part of the work group are to be determined by negotiation and agreement between the person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) and the workers.

Negotiations for a work group must consider the number of workers within the business or undertaking, the number and grouping of workers who carry out the same or similar types of work, and the diversity of workers and their work.

HSR training is not compulsory, it is an entitlement. However, if an elected HSR requests HSR training a PCBU must comply.

In some states and territories an elected HSR has to have had approved HSR training in order to exercise some of the powers of a HSR.

HSR training is strongly recommended for the sole reason of effective health and safety management.

HSRs do NOT have duties under the WHS Act. Instead they have functions and powers.

HSRs can therefore not be held personally liable for anything done in good faith.

HSR functions and powers include:

• Communication between management and work group members
• Identify potential hazards, risks in the workplace
• Conduct health and safety workplace inspections
• Make recommendations regarding health and safety improvements
• Direct unsafe work to cease if they have reason to believe that someone is at imminent risk of a serious injury
• Investigate any incidents
• Monitor WHS measures taken by the PCBU
• Issue a Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) in the case of a suspected WHS breach
• Attend Health and Safety Committee Meetings

Health and Safety Representative Refresher training is not required, however, it is strongly recommended to keep you informed and up-to date on safety best practice.

WorkSafe ACT has given approval for us to provide HSR Training Courses via Microsoft Teams, online as live demonstration. We provide courses in various 5-day blocks, including 1-day a week over a 5-week duration. The course must be completed within 6 months of commencement.

The WorkSafe ACT approved HSR Refresher course costs depend on the number of staff receiving the training and the format and location of the training. Contact our team for a quote. Our public courses delivered online via zoom are $489 per person.