Consultation - an employer's responsibility
As a Victorian employer, consultation is always your responsibility. It is an ongoing requirement that is as important as ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consultation means giving staff the chance to shape the health and safety decisions made in the workplace.
0:00
If you're a Victorian employer,
0:02
you've probably already worked hard
0:04
to make changes in your workplace,
0:05
to keep your employees healthy and safe
0:07
during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that's great.
0:10
But do you realise it's your legal obligation to consult with your staff
0:14
in developing actions in any matter that affects health and safety?
0:18
If there is a health and safety representative at your workplace,
0:21
you must involve them in consultation too.
0:24
So, what does it mean to consult?
0:26
Simply updating employees as things change is not consultation.
0:31
Instead, consultation means giving staff the chance to shape
0:34
their health and safety decisions made in the workplace.
0:38
Consultation can take many forms.
0:40
Importantly, it needs to be available in a format
0:43
and language that each employee can understand.
0:46
Meetings, conversations, group talks, phone calls, and emails,
0:50
all contribute to you gathering valuable insights and ideas
0:54
from those on the frontline.
0:56
Here's an example.
0:57
With the need to become COVID safe quickly.
0:59
An employer implemented a range of safety measures at work,
1:03
including extra personal protective equipment,
1:05
as well as hand sanitising stations.
1:08
Although staff welcomed the changes,
1:10
they were concerned the measures didn't go far enough.
1:13
Employees didn't understand how to apply the changes,
1:16
and they felt there were extra ways to make the workplace COVID safe.
1:20
The employer held a group discussion with the staff
1:22
and the health and safety representative,
1:24
to listen and take on board the employees' input and ideas.
1:29
This conversation led to extra improvements being agreed upon, including training
1:33
in how to use the personal protective equipment,
1:36
cleaning rules for using shared equipment,
1:38
and daily temperature checks.
1:40
The result, employees felt safe, supported,
1:43
and part of the solution.
1:45
If there is a suspected or confirmed COVID positive case in your workplace,
1:49
there are a number of things you will need to do.
1:52
Consultation with staff and health and safety representatives
1:55
is one of those things.
1:57
Your staff will need to understand how they will be impacted
2:00
and be given the opportunity to contribute to any workplace changes.
2:05
You can stay up to date with what you need to do,
2:07
by visiting our website for further information.
2:10
As a Victorian employer, consultation is always your responsibility.
2:15
It's an ongoing requirement that is as important as ever
2:18
during the COVID-19 pandemic.