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Become a Health & Safety Rep

SDA HSRs make your workplaces safer.

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) have powers that allow them to ensure the safety of your workplace is maintained including:
  • Representing workers in matters relating to health and safety
  • Monitoring the measures taken by your employer in compliance with the Work Health & Safety Act
  • Investigating work health and safety complaints
Benefits of having a trained HSR:
  • They are trained to identify safety issues and advocate for workers’ interests
  • A single point of contact to raise safety issues
  • Improved consultation process between employers and workers
  • More effective representation of workers’ interests
  • They are democratically elected by workers

Register your interest with your local SDA Branch.

What does a HSR do?

A HSR is a worker elected by their coworkers to represent their interests on health and safety matters.

Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) have powers that allow them to ensure the safety of your workplace is maintained.

Having a workplace Health and Safety Representative is one of the best ways to make your workplace safer.

It is a voluntary position with a 3-year term.

Your safety at work is serious business.

It’s crucial that your employer understands this and that there are elected officials in your workplace to ensure your safety and represent your interests on health and safety matters.

HSR Training Courses

The SDA provides industry-focused HSR training.

HSRs can generally complete training each year of their term which provides the fundamental skills necessary to represent their work group in matters of workplace health and safety.

Check with your local SDA Branch about training course for HSRs.

How do I become a HSR?

The SDA is looking for SDA Members to stand up and become Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to help take action on workplace safety.

Any worker can ask for an election of a HSR to take place, and the SDA is here to support the facilitation of an election.

If a worker asks for an election to take place, your employer must commence the process.

How to become a leader on workplace safety

Process for becoming a HSR

  • Requesting a HSR

  • Negotiating work groups (how many HSRs and who they will represent)

  • Calling for formal nominations

  • Conducting an election if there are more nominations than negotiated positions.