Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) The Missing Link In A Safety Committee

admin • October 17, 2024

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) play an absolutely vital role in the effectiveness of safety committees for several compelling reasons:


1. **Direct Communication**: HSRs serve as a crucial bridge and link between employees and management, ensuring that any worker concerns, feedback, and insights about safety issues are effectively communicated and addressed in a timely manner.


2. **Representation**: They passionately represent the interests of employees, advocating not just for their safety and well-being, but also striving to ensure that all voices are heard in crucial safety discussions. This advocacy helps build trust and transparency within the workplace.


3. **Knowledge of Workplace Hazards**: HSRs often possess invaluable first-hand knowledge of specific workplace hazards, enabling them to provide essential insights into risk assessment and effective mitigation strategies. Their experience greatly contributes to identifying potential risks before they become significant issues.


4. **Training and Education**: They have the capability to facilitate comprehensive training sessions and actively promote awareness of best safety practices, helping to nurture and foster a robust culture of safety throughout the organization.


5. **Monitoring Compliance**: HSRs play a key role in monitoring adherence to safety regulations and company policies. By doing so, they ensure that safety standards are not only set but are consistently met, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.


6. **Encouraging Reporting**: By creating a supportive and open environment, HSRs encourage employees to report unsafe conditions and near misses. This practice is essential for proactive safety management and helps in identifying issues that may otherwise go unreported.


7. **Collaboration**: HSRs work collaboratively and effectively with safety committees to develop and implement comprehensive safety policies and programs, thereby enhancing the overall safety culture within the organization.


In essence, HSRs are integral to promoting a safe work environment and ensuring that safety committees operate efficiently and inclusively. Their presence not only aids in compliance but also solidifies the foundational belief that safety is a shared responsibility among all employees.

If you would like to know more information on how BeSafe can assist with your safety committee please contact us.

HSRs rights to training

By admin • January 19, 2026
Under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 , Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are not required to be trained in order to exercise their powers. However, in order to fully understand their role and powers, training is highly beneficial and recommended by WorkSafe. Most HSRs will not understand how to make the most of their role as an HSR without participating in training – and therefore it is not until training has been completed that an HSR can maximise their positive impact upon the safety of their workplace. HSRs rights in relation to training are outlined under Section 67 of the OHS Act. They include: The right to attend initial training after being elected The right to attend a refresher course at least once a year The right to choose their course. This includes their course provider and course* The right for their course to be paid for by their employer, as well as associated costs with attending the course The right to be paid while attending the course *The course must be approved by WorkSafe and delivered by a WorkSafe approved provider, such as BeSafe. The HSR must consult with their employer and give 14 days notice. Section 69 of the OHS Act also discusses further the rights of HSR to training. This covers the right to attend additional training, when WorkSafe has approved them under Section 69 . HSRs have a right to attend these courses on top of the s67 courses. HSRs can be a very useful resource for employers in helping to create safe and healthy workplaces. It is in their best interest to encourage their HSRs to be trained. However, in the case where an employer does not allow the HSR to be trained as per the requirements under The Act, there are penalties which apply to this conduct, as it is a breach of the Legislation. For more information take a look at: Health and safety representative training | WorkSafe Victoria HSRs' Right to Training - OHS Reps Or get in contact with us for assistance: 0467002060 HSR Training and support | BeSafe | Regional Victoria You can book WorkSafe approved courses with us at HSR Training Courses | BeSafe | Regional Victoria

The Granville Train Disaster

By admin • January 12, 2026
The Granville rail disaster occurred on 18 January 1977 and remains the deadliest rail incident in Australian history. It resulted in the death of 84 people and injured a further 213. The train left the Blue Mountains at 6:09 on 18 th January 1977 and by the time it reached Sydney there were at least 469 passengers on board. At 8:10 the train derailed on a curve in a deep cutting at Granville and it hit the supports of the Bold St Bridge. This resulted in the bridge collapsing onto the train carriages and the passengers inside. The result was catastrophic loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, with many passengers and rescuers suffering from ongoing trauma. The train crash would expose inadequacies in the NSW railway maintenance processes, oversight and emergency response preparedness. The inquest and reviews into the incident became controversial in that there were allegations that the process was unduly influenced. Despite this it was clear that there were many opportunities for prevention of future railway disasters. There has been extensive criticism of the management and oversight both before and after the disaster.  There is much that is concerning about this case, including the support of those injured and bereaved in the incident. The failure to act following previous incidents on the track is particularly disturbing. There had been two previous derailments on the same section of track, resulting in trains hitting the Bold St Bridge. One in 1967 and another in 1975. Had the issue been addressed on either of these occasions, perhaps the disaster in 1877 would have been avoided. This highlights the importance of investigating incidents and ‘near misses’ and acting to resolve safety issues at the earliest opportunity. 40 years after the disaster, in 2017, the Premier of NSW delivered a belated official apology on behalf of the Government: Granville: Mixed response as NSW Government apologises for Australia's worst train disaster - ABC News An award winning docu-drama named “The Day Of The Roses” was produced as a dramatic depiction of the events surrounding the Granville train crash. It can be found here: https://youtu.be/ZkFBfQA9oxg?si=g_ePZ0kn0KpFrLLE . Those interested in incident investigation, prevention and related matters may well find it thought-provoking.