Implementing Communication and Consultation Processes Establishment of Designated Work Groups A designated work group (DWG) is a group of employees in the workplace who share similar workplace health and safety concerns and conditions. In Victorian Government schools a DWG is defined as the whole workplace as a default. However, based on the specifics of the workplace (e.g. in a multi-campus secondary school), the DWG structure may altered to suit that environment (e.g. one DWG for each campus). If requested to do so by an employee, the Workplace Manager must initiate a consultation process to determine if alterations are required to the default DWG structure. This process must commence within 14 days of the request. The number of DWGs is to be determined by negotiation and must consider: the number of employees at the workplace the nature of work performed the number and grouping of employees who perform the same or similar role the areas at the workplace where each type of work is performed the nature of hazards and level of risk at the workplace. Health and Safety Representatives A Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is an employee who has been elected by the members of their Designated Work Group (DWG) to represent them, providing a way for their views and concerns about health and safety to be heard by their employer. If a workplace has an elected HSR, the Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee must consult with the HSR by: providing the HSR with all the OHS information about the matter that the employer is or intending to provide employees providing the information to the HSR in a reasonable timeframe, where practicable before distributing to all employees meeting with the HSR if an invitation to meet is accepted or if a meeting is requested by the HSR inviting the HSR to meet to consult about the OHS matter giving the HSR a reasonable opportunity to express their views about the matter taking into account the HSR views about the matter. Please refer to for further details about HSRs including: electing a HSR HSR powers and responsibilities HSR training requirements Provisional Improvement Notices. Determining Appropriate Communication Forums The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee, in consultation with employees, must determine which communication strategies are most appropriate for their workplace. As a minimum, the workplace must establish: An employee forum, or forums, (e.g. staff meeting) where OHS is discussed as a standing agenda item. This forum/s is to occur at least once a month.
Implementing Communication and Consultation Processes Establishment of Designated Work Groups A designated work group (DWG) is a group of employees in the workplace who share similar workplace health and safety concerns and conditions. In Victorian Government schools a DWG is defined as the whole workplace as a default. However, based on the specifics of the workplace (e.g. in a multi-campus secondary school), the DWG structure may altered to suit that environment (e.g. one DWG for each campus). If requested to do so by an employee, the Workplace Manager must initiate a consultation process to determine if alterations are required to the default DWG structure. This process must commence within 14 days of the request. The number of DWGs is to be determined by negotiation and must consider: the number of employees at the workplace the nature of work performed the number and grouping of employees who perform the same or similar role the areas at the workplace where each type of work is performed the nature of hazards and level of risk at the workplace. Health and Safety Representatives A Health and Safety Representative (HSR) is an employee who has been elected by the members of their Designated Work Group (DWG) to represent them, providing a way for their views and concerns about health and safety to be heard by their employer. If a workplace has an elected HSR, the Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee must consult with the HSR by: providing the HSR with all the OHS information about the matter that the employer is or intending to provide employees providing the information to the HSR in a reasonable timeframe, where practicable before distributing to all employees meeting with the HSR if an invitation to meet is accepted or if a meeting is requested by the HSR inviting the HSR to meet to consult about the OHS matter giving the HSR a reasonable opportunity to express their views about the matter taking into account the HSR views about the matter. Please refer to for further details about HSRs including: electing a HSR HSR powers and responsibilities HSR training requirements Provisional Improvement Notices. Determining Appropriate Communication Forums The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee, in consultation with employees, must determine which communication strategies are most appropriate for their workplace. As a minimum, the workplace must establish: An employee forum, or forums, (e.g. staff meeting) where OHS is discussed as a standing agenda item. This forum/s is to occur at least once a month.
Occupational-Health-and-Safety.docx