A health and safety committee (HSC) must meet at least every three months and at any reasonable time when requested by at least half the members of the committee.
Role of the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU - the new term that includes employers) has an obligation to consult with its workers. One means of ensuring effective consultation is through an HSC.
Key elements to making consultation effective include allowing members of the HSC:
- reasonable time to attend meetings and carry out their functions as a committee member, and be paid at their normal rate of pay when doing so
- access to information about hazards and risks at the workplace as well as information relating to the health and safety of workers at the workplace (excluding workers’ personal medical information without the workers' consent)
- opportunities to develop skills relevant to their role on the HSC.
The makeup of the committee can be agreed to between the workers and the PCBU. The PCBU can only nominate up to half of the members.
A health and safety representative (HSR) is a member of the committee if they consent. If there are two or more HSRs at a workplace, then they can choose one or more who consent to be members of the committee.
Role of workers
The role of workers on HSCs is to ensure genuine worker representation in health and safety matters that affect them.
Call 13 10 50 for more information on the operation of health and safety committees.