This communication and consultation procedure can assist your business comply with AS/NZS ISO 45001, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems clauses:
A communication and consultation procedure outlines the processes and methods to follow to ensure that all stakeholders are consulted and kept informed about health, safety environmental, quality and other matters. This process may include committee meetings, conferences, seminars, notice boards and other communication methods to those who may be absent from the workplace.
A key part of effective communication and consultation is to avoid conflict and misunderstandings. A communication and consultation procedure should be tailored to the needs of the business and its workforce. It should be clear who is responsible for what within their area of responsibility.
Communication – involves the exchange of information, thoughts, messages, statements or announcements between stakeholders.
Consultation – involves the fostering, cooperation and development of partnerships between government, regulators, employers, workers and stakeholders.
Any reputable business recognizes the benefits of consulting with its workforce. Safer and better outcomes are more attainable by using the experience and expertise of workers, as the workers can assist with hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control. In addition, consultation and the participation of workers lead to a higher level of compliance with procedures, enabling safety improvements to be more easily achieved.
A communication and consultation procedure outlines the different ways consultation can involve workers in health, safety and other matters and what to do if there are problems. Consultation and the participation of workers is vital to good workplace decision-making processes. Employers can ensure that everyone is aware of what is happening and that their views are considered.
Some examples of when consultation and the participation of workers should occur are when:
Note: It is much easier to achieve a safe workplace when everyone involved in the work communicates and consults with each other about managing hazards and risks and works together to find solutions.
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) can also play a crucial role in work health and safety, by participating in safety consultation processes, ensuring that worker concerns are communicated effectively before the final decision is made.
