• Section 1 - Summary
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Definitions
• Section 4 - Policy/Regulation
• Section 5 - Procedures
• Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
• Part B - Consultation
• Part C - OHS Committees
• Part D - Participation of employees in OHS
• Part E - OHS Documents
• Section 6 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Summary

(1) The University recognises that consultation with employees about health and safety is an important part of the commitment to engage with employees.

(2)  VU's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislated obligation includes:

1. Consultation mechanisms which enable communication flow across the University to consult with employees, employee representatives and contractors, so far as reasonably practicable on OHS issues and changes in their workplace that may affect their health and safety.
2. Consultation with other people including students, visitors, neighbours and others conducting businesses or undertakings that may be affected by Victoria University's activities

Section 2 - Scope

(3) This Procedure applies across the University.

Section 3 - Definitions

(4) Designated Work Group — (DWG) is a group of employees who share similar workplace health and safety concerns and conditions. The employees can be from one or more workplaces operated by a single or multiple employers.

(5) Employee Health and Safety Representative — (HSR) elected by the membership of their designated workgroup to represent them. Elections and eligibility will be in direct compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic), Division 4 — Sections 54 to 57. All rights and powers of the Health and Safety Representative/ Deputy Health and Safety Representative are detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic), Division 5 — Sections 58 to 66.

(6) OHS Committee - to provide consultative forums and where a minimum of 50% of the members of each OHS Committee must be employee representatives. Refer to Terms of Reference for the individual committees (these can be found on the OHS intranet site).

Section 4 - Policy/Regulation

(7) Health and Safety Policy

Section 5 - Procedures

(8) All VU workplaces must have effective systems in place to ensure that all employees (including Health and Safety Representatives) are consulted when decisions are being made that may affect health and safety.

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Part B - Consultation

What is Consultation?

(9) Consultation - a two-way exchange between employers and employees that involves:

1. sharing information about health and safety;
2. giving employees a reasonable opportunity to express their views; and
3. taking those views into account.

(10) Refer to section 36 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).

When is Consultation required?

(11) Consultation is required when:

1. Identifying or assessing hazards or risks;
2. Making decisions on how to control risk;
3. Making decisions about the adequacy of facilities for employee welfare;
4. Making decisions about procedures to consult, resolve OHS issues, monitor employee's health and safety and provision of training and information;
5. Determining membership of OHS Committees;
6. Proposing changes to the workplace, plant, substances, processes and other equipment in use in the workplace and the work performed that may affect the health and safety of employees.

(12) Refer to Section 35 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) for more detail if required.

(13) There should be trust and mutual respect in the approach between people involved in the consultation of OHS concerns and conditions.

How is the Consultation to occur at VU?

(14) VU has a framework of Designated Work Groups (DWG) in compliance to the OHS Act. VU has determined via consultation with employees a structure of DWG based on Colleges and Divisions. Refer to OHS Act for how to negotiate and establish designated workgroups. The framework of DWG's and associated committee can be found on the OHS intranet site.

(15) Each DWG has an elected Health and Safety Representative. Where the DWG requires it there may be deputy HSR's. Elections are held in compliance with Legislation to appoint HSR's and Deputy HSR's for each of those DWG's. The current list of HSR's and OHS Committee members can be found on the OHS Intranet site.

(16) Where the employees have an elected Health and Safety Representative then consultation must include that person as required by the Legislation. HSR's are requested to inform their DWG's of OHS information and provide feedback to management from their DWG's.

(17) Where the DWG does not have an elected HSR then consultation must be carried out with the employees within the DWG. Consultation can occur by provision of information by a number of communication media i.e. documents such as emails, face to face such as meetings i.e Team meetings, Discipline Group meetings.

(18) Consultation may be carried out by various means (emails, meetings, noticeboards) but must ensure the sharing of information with employees, give them reasonable opportunity to express views and then take those views into account. The consultation needs to be documented with any feedback received and how considered.

(19) Consultation must occur with contractors and any other persons that may be affected by Victoria University activities. The VU contact should include as many others affected by planned changes as far as reasonable. VU will consult with a representative of the Students (i.e representative of the Student Union) via the OHS Committee framework.

Part C - OHS Committees

(20) OHS Committees have been established to incorporate each of those DWG's, within the structure reflecting those DWG's with similar OHS concerns and conditions. OHS Committees meet at least 4 times a year, with formal agendas and documented minutes being available to all in the DWG. Each Committee has a "terms of reference" that covers the membership and function of the meeting. OHS issues that cannot be addressed at local level may be tabled at the OHS Committee. OHS information to be distributed to a VU wide audience will be tables at the OHS Committee. The expectation is that HSR's then relay that information to their colleagues.

Part D - Participation of employees in OHS

(21) VU will enable employees to participate in decision making processes on OHS performance measures and proposed changes. Employees are encouraged to report hazardous situations, have input into procedures, and make suggestions on improvement to the OHS management system.

Part E - OHS Documents

(22) University wide implementation guidance material and OHS procedures will be maintained by the OHS team. Procedures will be reviewed at least every 3 years and involve consultation with affected employee’s and HSR's. The consultation will occur via email to HSR email distribution list, OHS Committees, other specific working groups and VU Policy Bulletin Board.

(23) The OHS team will provide information on the OHS management system via OHS committees and the intranet site.

Section 6 - Guidelines

(24) Nil.