The
Health and Safety (Consultation with employees) Regulations 1996
The Health and
Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 requires
employers to consult employees on such matters if they do not have
formally appointed safety representatives. The consultation can either
be direct with the employees or with one or more of them whom they may
choose for the purpose called "representatives of employee safety" to
distinguish them from safety representatives. The regulations came into
force on 1st October 1996. There is no "small employer" exemption.
The 1996 regulations give these "representatives of employee safety"
the right to time off with pay for training and carrying out their
duties. It also specifically protects them against victimisation by
amending ERA 1996, ss.44 and 100 accordingly.
The Health and Safety Commission have published a relevant free
leaflet, "Consulting employees on health and safety; a guide to the
law", available from HSE Books.
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