People and Culture

Occupational Health and Safety

Health and Safety Representatives

Designated Work Group (DWG)

A designated work group is a group of employees whose composition is determined by negotiation between the employer and employees on the basis of location; type of work; number of employees; the nature of hazards at the workplace; and of overtime or shift working arrangements. At La Trobe University the general arrangement (with several exceptions) is for each building to be a designated work group.

Health and Safety Representative (HSR)

University Health and Safety Representatives are employees who nominate and are elected by members of a designated work group to be the group’s health and safety representative. The HSR holds office for up to three years and can be re elected.

Under the OHS Act the HSR is able to inspect the workplace, accompany an inspector, attend interviews on OHS matters, seek assistance on OHS matters and participate in OHS issue resolution.

Approved Training

Health and Safety Representatives are entitled under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take time off to attend approved courses which are relevant to their role. Funding for the costs of initial and refresher training for Health and Safety Representatives will be provided by the Workplace Environment and Wellbeing Unit.

Employer Representative

The Employer Representatives are nominated by Management and have the appropriate level of seniority to resolve safety issues.

For the purposes of determining the composition of designated work groups, the University employer representative is the Director, Human Resources.

The La Trobe University Register of Health and Safety Representatives (PDF 26KB)