Worker involvement

Worker Involvement is an umbrella term used to describe a cooperative approach between employers and workers to the management of health and safety at work. It is a key goal within HSE’s new strategy.

Health and safety legislation^[1] places requirements on employers to consult with employees, in both unionised and non-unionised workplaces. Inspectors should take all available opportunities to remind employers of their legal duty to consult^[2], ensure compliance with the legal requirements and advise both employers and workers on what is good consultation practice.

Inspectors should make every effort to contact at least one employee or safety representative as early as possible in an inspection visit. This will enable workers to raise health and safety issues, in private if they wish, and help to assess the extent and quality of consultation in the workplace.

Please direct employers and workers to the Worker Involvement pages on the HSE Website.

For information

• Topic pack – Worker consultation and involvement
  Provides information regarding indicators of good practice
• HSE’s Inspection guide and additional guidance
  Provides information on contacting safety representatives (step 3.3)
• Worker involvement
  Iincludes information and resources that can really help, such as guidance, good practice, tools, case studies and videos

Footnotes

1. L146 Consulting workers on health and safety: Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (as amended) and Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 (as amended) - Approved Codes of Practice and guidance.
2. OC 111/3- Enforcement of regulations requiring consultation with employees