Issue Resolution

The OHS Regulations 2007 have a procedure to resolve OHS issues. If a service has an agreed OHS issue resolution procedure (that employees have been consulted about and agreed is suitable), this takes precedence. In the absence of a service specific one, the procedure in the OHS Regulations 2007 applies. It is important for the employer to know that if there is an OHS issue requiring resolution and if there is no HSR, a group of employees can agree to have a nominated employee represent them in consultative efforts to resolve the issue with the employer. The key to success with OHS issue resolution is:

• where possible, gather facts, information and be prepared prior to consulting
• consult with all relevant stakeholders (this may include non-employees)
• confirm which issues raised are actually OHS issues that are real and foreseeable hazards and risks
• address these OHS hazards and risks by following the processes outlined in systematic approach to managing OHS
• where the issues are not solely or specifically OHS issues, deal with them sensitively and appropriately; for example, there may be human resource/personnel, performance management issues and/or issues that should be handled in accordance with other more appropriate processes.