Time Off for Trade Unions - Health, Safety and Welfare Representative Duties

For employees who are Health, Safety and Welfare Representatives, reasonable paid time off may occur for consultations on the following:

• the introduction of any measure which may substantially affect health and safety at work, for example the introduction of new equipment or new systems of work (such as the speed of a process line and shift-work arrangements)
• arrangements for getting competent people to help comply with health and safety laws (a competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to help an employer meet the requirements of health and safety law)
• the information that must be given to employees on the risks and dangers arising from their work, measures to reduce or get rid of these risks and what employees should do if they are exposed to a risk
• the planning and organisation of health and safety training
• the health and safety consequences of introducing new technology

Trade Union appointed Health, Safety and Welfare Representatives may be members of the Workplace Health and Safety Committee of the University and members of Departmental Safety Committees, each with specific duties associated with these memberships.

In accordance with good practice, duties that may be carried out by Trade Union Health, Safety and Welfare Representatives, including those appointed to departmental safety committees, may also include those advised below. It should be noted that in all the duties identified the primary process/route should be through the Health, Safety and Welfare Department, in the first instance, in order for the University to take appropriate action.

• Investigation of potential hazards and dangerous occurrences at the workplace,
• Investigation of complaints by an employee relating to health, safety and welfare at work,
• Examination of causes of workplace accidents,
• Representation to the employer on the above investigations and on general matters affecting health and safety of employees they represent,
• Inspection of the workplace,
• Representing the employees in dealings with health and safety inspectors,
• Receiving certain information from inspectors,
• Attending health and safety committee meetings which are not part of the representatives’ day to day duties in their contractual role.

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• Last reviewed and updated: 5 August 2021