Under the provisions of the OHS Act 2000 Section 18(a), (b) and (c) and the OHS Regulation 2001, the functions of OHS committees are to:

• keep under review measures to ensure the health safety and welfare of persons at the place of work;
• investigate any matter that may be a risk to health and safety at the place of work.
• attempt to resolve any health and safety matter.  If the committee cannot resolve the matter it should ask an inspector from WorkCover NSW to help.

Additional functions of OHS committees and OHS representatives are covered by Clause 30 of the Regulation as follows:

• to make a request to accompany an inspector as an observer on an inspection under Section 69(b) of the Act that affects the workgroup that the committee or representative represents
• to be an observer during any formal report by an inspector to the employer in connection with any OHS matter concerning the workgroup that the committee or representative represents
• to accompany an employee of the workgroup that the committee or representative represents, at the employee’s request, during any interview by the employer on any OHS issue
• to be an observer during any formal in-house investigation of an accident or other occurrence at the relevant place of work (This applies to incidents that must be notified to WorkCover under Division 4 of Part 5 of the Act)
• to assist in the development of arrangements for recording workplace hazards and accidents and to promote improved workplace health and safety
• to make recommendations for training of members of the OHS committees and OHS representatives and for employees in relation to occupational health and safety.

Note: An observer must be an employee member of the OHS committee or the OHS representative and only one person may act as such an observer at any particular time - Clause 30(2).