Australia Model Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination 4.2: 4.2 Agree consultation procedures with workers, consistent with the WHS Act, and review them

The Act does not require agreed procedures, but they save time and confusion. Before they are agreed the PCBU must consult affected workers, including representatives, about them. Agreed procedures must be consistent with the Act, so they must include sharing information and a reasonable opportunity to express views, they cannot remove the powers of representatives or functions of committees, and consultation must follow them once agreed (s 47(2)). Effective procedures cover the matters requiring consultation, who is consulted, how consultation occurs, how information is shared, opportunities to give views, arrangements for workers with disability or special language or literacy needs, feedback, and review timeframes, and may include practical help such as time for workers and representatives to meet. They should be flexible to cope with urgency. Informal understood procedures can do for small businesses, but larger workplaces should document them. They should be monitored and reviewed.