New online toolkit boosts WHS consultation practices

An online toolkit has been launched by SafeWork NSW, aimed at helping to improve work health and safety consultation practices within NSW workplaces.

The Consultation@Work toolkit provides a wealth of practical information which will assist NSW businesses to comply with work health and safety laws and through effective consultation ensure their businesses are healthy, safe and more productive.

One of the key deliverables from SafeWork’s Consultation@Work strategy, the toolkit includes videos, fact sheets and other material on consultation arrangements, work groups, case studies and dispute resolution, as well as targeted information for health and safety representatives.

SafeWork NSW Executive Director Peter Dunphy said the toolkit will make it easier for NSW workplaces to improve consultation within their workplaces by providing clarity on what good consultation looks like.

“The Consultation@Work toolkit is a ‘one-stop shop’ for workplace consultation information that will continually evolve with new content gained from new ideas from businesses, workers and our stakeholders,” Dunphy said.

“This toolkit is full of useful tips on issues such as how to begin conversations to help identify possible work health and safety hazards and risks, coming up with practical solutions and then communicating them efficiently across an organisation.”

The toolkit was developed in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, and will support NSW workplaces as they improve on the consultation capabilities that are mandated by provisions in the Work Health and Safety Act.

“All NSW workplaces have a legal obligation to consult with workers and this toolkit centrally locates material designed to help them develop better consultation practices,” Dunphy said.

“It’s also designed to give workplaces greater flexibility, with advice on the benefits of establishing a health and safety committee and representative, or other agreed workplace arrangements.

“Every work site is different and no-one knows it better than the people who are there every day. Involving workers in the decision-making processes can lead to a more productive workplace.

“This is why consultation should be front and centre of the safety landscape; this toolkit will make it easier for everyone to get the conversation started.”

The toolkit is available at www.safework.nsw.gov.au/health-and-safety/consultation-@-work.

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