Step 8: Consult your workforce

The law says that employers must consult their workers on health and safety.

Consultation is a two-way process – it does not just mean telling workers about health and safety. It means discussing health and safety with them, allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions.

You have to consult all workers. In a very small business, you may choose to consult each employee separately. However, most organisations consult staff through their health and safety representatives.

There are two kinds of representative. They can be:

• elected by their colleagues; or
• appointed by a trade union.

Managers must not decide who will represent workers on health and safety.

Our worker involvement pages show you:

• Who to consult and how
• What to consult on
• What the law says

Free leaflets

• Consulting employees on health and safety: A guide to the law INDG 232 [430kb]