POLICY STATEMENT

As part of our commitment to achieving the principles of health and safety in our workplace, we recognise our moral and legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment for workers, contractors, customers, and visitors. This commitment also extends to ensuring that the views of workers and their elected representatives are considered in making decisions that affect their health and safety.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

We will develop and implement appropriate and compliant systems of workplace consultation, worker representation and participation in MAK Integrated Services Limited matters in all company workplaces. We will ensure that suitable processes for communication of MAK Integrated Services Limited matters are provided and implemented, and that consultation with workers (and, where applicable, other stakeholders), is carried out regarding matters that may affect their health and safety at work.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

We will, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with workers who carry out work for the company and who are, or are likely to be, directly affected by a MAK Integrated Services Limited matter. Consultation procedures will be agreed with workers and be in accordance with legislated requirements for workplace consultation.

Workers may, if they choose, elect a health and safety representative (HSR) to represent workers in their workgroup in relation to health and safety matters in their workplace or workplaces. The company will provide any reasonably necessary resources, facilities, and assistance to allow the election of a HSR, and training of HSRs as entitled under legislation. We will consult with an elected HSR in relation to any matter which may affect the health and safety of any worker in a workgroup represented by the HSR.

We will encourage the participation of workers in work health and safety matters, including the establishment of a workplace health and safety committee (HSC) following a request to do so by a HSR or five or more workers at the workplace. Where necessary, appropriate training will be provided for HSC members, and resources made available to allow members to carry out their functions on the committee. HSC meeting will be held at least once every 3 months.

All workers will be notified of any workplace consultation, representation, and participation arrangements, and be kept informed of health and safety matters that may affect them by posting of HSC minutes on workplace notice boards or by other suitable means.

Worker consultation and involvement – what to look for

(The following section has been extracted from – https://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/worker.htm)

Use the following examples of effective and ineffective health and safety management to check if you are doing what you need to do on worker consultation and involvement. 

What it looks like when done effectively What it looks like when done badly or not at all

  • Instruction, information and training are provided to enable employees to work in a safe and healthy manner.

  • Safety representatives and representatives of employee safety carry out their full range of functions.

  • The workforce are consulted (either directly or through their representatives) in good time on issues relating to their health and safety and the results of risk assessments. 

Beyond compliance

  • Feedback mechanisms exist for health and safety matters, such as:

    • ‘suggestions boxes’ or more formal open meetings with management;

    • team meetings are held and may be led by employees. 

  • Joint decisions on health and safety are made between managers and workers.

  • Employees lack the right level of information, instruction and training needed to do their job in a safe and healthy manner.

  • Representatives cannot carry out their functions.

  • Employees don’t know who they would go to if they had health and safety concerns. 

  • Health and safety controls don’t seem practical or employees are having to work around difficulties.

  • Line managers don’t discuss:

    • how to safely use new equipment;

    • how to do a job safely.

  • There is little or no evidence of information being cascaded through the organisation (eg team meetings, notice boards etc).

Additional factors to consider

Dynamic situations where the working environment changes regularly

  • Worker consultation and involvement is fundamental in ensuring risks are effectively managed. 

  • How do you support the necessary increased emphasis on the workforce to work in a safe manner? 

Smaller businesses

  • Smaller businesses tend to have simpler, less formal systems in place such as face-to-face discussions, toolbox talks or periodic meetings on specific issues. 

  • Do your arrangements allow employees to have a say?  

Larger organisations

  • Larger organisations are likely to require or have some form of formal system of consultation, although informal systems may be present as well. 

  • There should be effective consultation arrangements, including an appropriate number of health and safety representatives and representatives of employee safety, as well as safety committees and meetings for key issues such as organisational changes. 

Approved By –

Signed –

Date –