Reporting a workplace concern or issue

• Reporting a Concern
• What happens once I have raised a concern?
• The role of the union official in the investigation of a suspected breach of Work safety Act 2008

Reporting a Concern

Before WorkSafe ACT becomes involved in the issue, you might like to try resolving it 'in house', if you haven't already done so. This might include:

• direct negotiation with management
• negotiation with management through union representatives or your Health and Safety Representative
• reporting a complaint to your local Work Safety Committee.

You can contact WorkSafe ACT on (02) 6207 3000 if none of these courses of action are appropriate or successful.

For action to be taken it will be necessary for sufficient information to be provided to enable WorkSafe ACT to:

• identify the issue as one which is within our jurisdiction.  Where it is identified that another agency has jurisdiction over the issue, we may advise you to refer it to them.
• find the address of the workplace and the location within that workplace which is the subject matter of the issue
• identify the exact nature of the issue
• identify the name and address of the organisation or individual in control of the workplace.

Inspectors will not reveal the source of the reported issue if you wish to remain anonymous. However, if you choose to remain anonymous, it is not possible for an inspector to seek further information from you or provide feedback on the outcome of any investigation.  Remaining anonymous may also limit WorkSafe ACT’s capacity to deal with the matter effectively.

What happens once I have raised a concern?

A record of the issue raised will be completed by the person who receives the report. Following a review and assessment of the safety issues, the matter will be referred, where appropriate, to an inspector for investigation. Issues investigated by WorkSafe ACT are classified based on the level of risk, with greater emphasis being placed on those matters where the risk is of an urgent nature. Not all issues will result in a workplace visit by an inspector. Some will be actioned by way of alternate compliance mechanisms, for example, where the safety issues are resolved through phone calls and correspondence.

The role of the union official in the investigation of a suspected contravention of Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, WHS entry permit holder (i.e. a union) may be authorised to enter a workplace to investigate contraventions or suspected contraventions of health and safety legislation.

More information regarding WHS entry permit holders.