Under the OHS Act 2000 all employers have a duty to consult with their workers. Chapter 3 of the OHS Regulation 2001 outlines specific provisions with regard to OHS consultation.

Briefly, the three forms of OHS consultation are:

• establishment of an OHS committee
• election of an OHS representative or representatives
• establishment of other agreed consultation arrangements.

If an employer has twenty or more workers and a majority of the workers requests an OHS committee, or WorkCover so directs, an OHS committee must be established.

An OHS representative must also be elected if at least one of the workers so requests, or WorkCover directs.

Other consultative arrangements require agreement between the employer and the worker. (Section 17, OHS Act 2000).

For more information, see OHS consultation FAQs and the Code of Practice: OHS Consultation.