Safety representative
A worker appointed or elected to represent employees on health and safety matters, with statutory rights to inspect workplaces, investigate accidents and consult with management. Appointment routes and rights differ by jurisdiction.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“safety representative”Exact equivalentThe Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 give trade unions the right to appoint safety representatives. They have statutory rights to investigate hazards, inspect workplaces, examine documents and attend safety committees. Where there are no union-appointed representatives, the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 apply.
Irish HSA
“safety representative”Close equivalentPart 4 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (sections 25-28) gives employees the right to select safety representatives and places duties on employers to facilitate their role. The right is not limited to unionised workplaces.
US OSHA
“worker representative”Partial equivalentOSHA does not have a general statutory safety representative role. Section 8(c) of the OSH Act 1970 allows employee representatives to accompany OSHA inspectors during walkarounds. Section 11(c) prohibits retaliation against employees who raise safety concerns.
Practitioner note: Appointed by a recognised trade union under SRSCR 1977 (GB). In non-unionised workplaces the equivalent role is a Representative of Employee Safety (RoES) elected under the HSCE Regulations 1996.