Health and Safety Representatives - Managers Guidelines
Common Questions

When do we need to consult staff?
We need to consult staff where there is any change which may substantially affect their health and safety at work, e.g. in procedures, equipment or ways of working.  The topics that would be included are:

What is consultation?
Consultation is the process by which managers and staff (or their representatives) jointly examine and discuss issues of mutual concern. It involves seeking acceptable solutions to problems through a genuine exchange of views and information.  It means that managers actively seek and then take account of the views of staff before making a decision.

 

How does consultation differ from communication?
The dividing line between consultation and communications is often unclear.  However, there is a fundamental difference. Communication is the interchange of information and ideas within an organisation. Consultation goes beyond this and involves managers actively seeking and then taking account of the views of staff before making a decision.

 

How are staff consulted?
Either through safety reps where accredited or through the team brief arrangements.

A database of accredited safety representatives can be found in the myRisk library module or by contacting Ask AL - BBC Safety Advice Line.  The entry identifies the name of the individual, the staff they represent and the fact that they have been appointed by one of the relevant unions.

How are safety reps accredited?
The unions have a right to appoint safety representatives and, formally, managers have no control over this process and who is selected. However, the BBC can question the number of safety representatives and the number of representatives and their constituencies are agreed in advance.

 

The accreditation process is set out on BBC People site.

 

What does a safety rep do?
Safety representatives have functions that are set out in the SRSC Regulations.  Their role is to represent the views of staff in discussion with their local manager.  This may be where there are proposals to change procedures, equipment or ways of working.  It may be to help develop health and safety initiatives or to share lessons learned for their members. 

 

How are staff informed about the arrangements?
Managers will inform staff about the arrangements as part of their local induction.  Staff can find their local accredited representatives, where these exist, on the Me & My team.  The safety representative will let staff know the mechanism to gain staff's views and for staff to receive feedback from their representative. 

What happens if there are no safety reps?
For those areas where there are no safety representatives, managers should consult with staff through the BBC's normal team brief process. 

 

Locally face to face consultation may take place at:

The local level meetings may be based on a site and include representatives from all Divisions present (e.g. Bristol, Manchester) or on an area with just a single Division represented (e.g. News Joint Safety meetings). Where there are specific health and safety forums the meetings are usually held four times a year.  If the consultation is through departmental meetings, then health and safety should formally be an agenda item, at least quarterly. The ideas that come out of discussions held in the forums are feedback by the Chair to the Divisions representative on MCORC. There is a standing item at that Committee for such feedback to be shared.