This Act allows for a recognised trade union to appoint safety representatives from amongst the employees. Their role is to represent the employees in consultations with the employer and carry out certain functions, such as:
investigating potential hazards and dangerous occurrences at the workplace and examining the causes of accidents at the workplace;
investigating complaints by any employee he represents relating to that employee's health, safety or welfare at work;
making representations to the employer on the two previous points;
making representations to the employer on general matters affecting the health, safety or welfare at work of the employees at the workplace;
representing the employees he was appointed to represent in consultations at the workplace with inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive and of any other enforcing authority; and
attending meetings of safety committees where he attends in his capacity as a safety representative in connection with any of the above functions.
