Ask how your workforce want to be consulted
Where a trade union is not recognised or has not appointed a safety representative, or there are employees who are not represented by a union, ask your workforce if:
- they would like to be consulted directly, through representatives, or a combination of the two
- how regularly consultation should take place
If it is not practical to consult directly or employees would like representatives, you should arrange for them to be elected.
Joint involvement - safety committees and inspections
Joint involvement leads to joint problem solving. Where you have both union-appointed representatives and employee-elected health and safety representatives, it is good practice to:
- consult both together about health and safety matters which affect the employees they represent through a joint health and safety committee where both types of representatives are members
- involve and consult health and safety representatives elected by the workforce in joint inspections and investigations as you would with the union-appointed health and safety representatives – there is guidance on how to consult with representatives
It is simpler and better to consult health and safety representatives at the same time, about the same issues, where possible.
Don't decide for your employees
Employee consultation is about taking on board the views of your employees, so you should not decide who should represent them.
Reflect diversity
As far as possible employee representatives should reflect the diversity of your workforce to be seen as truly representative. This means that everyone eligible should be encouraged to stand as a candidate so employees have the choice to elect or endorse a candidate that reflects the group or constituency.
Train your representatives
You must work with and train the representatives your employees have elected so they can fulfil their role.
You can find guidance on training and planning for safety reps.
Give it time
If you and the employee representatives allow time to get used to working together, and listen to each other, your relationship has the best possible chance of reaching your shared goal of staying safe and healthy at work. This may help you adjust, and understand how true consultation works.
See things from a shared perspective
Train your managers, supervisors and health and safety representatives together and clearly identify their roles in health and safety, enabling them all to see things from a shared perspective.