A key objective of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 
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is the establishment of effective workplace consultative arrangements. This helps people to identify hazards and to develop and implement appropriate solutions.
The Health and Safety Consultative Framework provides information for schools, regions and the department on establishing communication and consultation processes. Implementing this procedure will facilitate safe and healthy working and learning environments and fulfil legislative obligations.
A structure of health and safety committees throughout all levels of the department is defined in the Health and Safety Consultative Framework; the committee structure is summarised below.
All schools and other departmental workplaces are required to establish a forum to deal with health and safety issues. This can take the form of a workplace health and safety committee, or in smaller schools it might be more practical to use other consultative forums such as staff meetings to deal with health and safety issues. A committee member must be an employee of the department however, invited guests are welcome.
Some issues identified at your school may not be able to be managed at the school level. The issues may have a broader impact and may exist in other schools across the state. School committees, in consultation with Principals should forward these issues to the Regional Health and Safety Committee.
For issues that may have state wide ramifications or require a departmental response, the Regional Health and Safety Committee can raise them at the State-wide Corporate Workplace Health and Safety Standing Committee which is chaired by the Assistant Director-General, Strategic Human Resources
All workplaces with 30 or more workers are required to appoint a workplace health and safety officer (WHSO). The role of a WHSO is to assist management by advising Principals and Managers of the overall state of health and safety at the workplace. More on WHSOs.
Workplace Health and Safety Representatives (WHSR) are elected by fellow staff at an individual worksite. Education Queensland Schools and other non-school sites are encouraged to elect a WHSR. The WHSR has a different role from that of the WHSO. The role involves liaising with other staff to identify health and safety issues and conveying these to management. The WHSR can assist in the consultation process by participating in the school Health and Safety committee. A WHSR may be of particular benefit at schools with fewer than 30 employees.
On request, the WHSR is entitled to formal training. Appropriate training can provide the WHSR with tools and knowledge that allow the person to effectively participate and improve health and safety in the school. With these skills the WHSR can be a valuable member of the health and safety team.
The accredited training course for the WHSR is 3 days duration and EQ will be offering the course in the latter half of 2007. The approved course is yet to be released.
Regions provide health and safety networks to support schools. The networks consist of school WHSO, WHSR, school administration and your Regional Senior Health and Safety Consultant. Network meetings are usually held once a term. These networks provide a great opportunity to share ideas with other schools, raise issues and develop collaborative solutions. To find out about your region's networks, please contact your local Regional Senior Health and Safety Consultant. Principals and Managers should ensure that the WHSO and/or other relevant school staff have access to regional network meetings to maintain currency with health and safety issues.
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and the Arts) 2007.