Role and Responsibilities of WHS Representative in Sociology

This report delves into the critical role and responsibilities of a Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) representative, focusing on actions to prevent workplace accidents and promote employee safety. It explores the process of addressing injury statistics, including the roles of employees and the WHS committee, and emphasizes the importance of effective communication. The report identifies potential communication barriers and proposes solutions, such as improved training and clear communication protocols, to minimize incidents. It outlines procedures to lower accident rates, including training, clear communication, and adherence to regulations. The report also covers the role of supervisors, the key requirements of the primary duty of care, and relevant WHS acts in Victoria, as well as the purpose of organizational policies, procedures, and systems. Finally, the report examines how supervisors can support each other to raise safety issues and provides a detailed reference list.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY 1
Sociology
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

SOCIOLOGY 2
Role and responsibility of the WHS representative and the necessary action to be
taken
A WHS representative works to direct employees and the workers in the workgroup
to stop any unsafe work (Regan, & Fettell, 2017). Depending on the seriousness of the risk in
a workplace the WHS representative can take responsibility of stopping the work through
consultation to the PCBU. The WHS representative was to make consultations with the
PCBU to stop the work at the depot. Stopping of the work creates time for maintenance
practices to take place before resumption. The step is fundamental in enhancing the health
and safety of the employees at the workplace in the depot.
The people to whom the WHS committee members should discuss the incident
After the accident, the WHS need to have a committee meeting to discuss the incident
statistics at the depot including the possible solution the workplace. The discussion should be
conducted by themselves first and later address the issue to the PCBU. The Administration
assistants and the storekeepers of the depot need to be included in the discussion so that the
incident statistics are fully covered. The possible solutions afterwards have to be developed
and ensure safety of all the workers.
Recording and communicating the outcomes with the employees
The WHS committee will collect the required information concerning the incident at
the depot through recording. Writing down the events in the risk assessments found in the
management system and the motoring reports is essential in collecting the required
information. After conducting the discussions, the WHS committee needs to come with
notice boards, Accident registers and company newsletters to enhance accessible
communication with the employees at the depot. The consultation meetings should also be
conducted with the employees so that they get addressed on the incidents.

SOCIOLOGY 3
Role of the employees in addressing the injury statistics
The employees play an important role in the WHS by ensuring the working
environment is safe and health (Wells, Taheri, Gregory-Smith, & Manika, 2016). At the
depot, they have to report any ill health, hazards and injuries experienced during the incident
to their employer or supervisor. The employees can raise the issue concerning the incident by
use of an informal complaint first. If the informal complaint does not work, then the problems
should be raised formally. Employees can also follow the rules and procedures set by
employers in addressing the incident at the depot.
Barriers that could affect the communication flow at the depot
The barriers include; irregular communications at the depot that may contribute to
accidents. The obstacle can be overcome by regular arrangement of daily meetings to develop
confidence in addressing colleagues. Secondly, body language may not be coordinated with
what is being discussed. Verbal and non-verbal communication should therefore, be aligned
(Jenifer, & Raman, 2015). Being unclear in communication is another communication barrier
which can be avoided through reduction in ambiguities in connection. Dishonest in delivering
in speaking is another barrier and the possible solution is to emphasize on the importance of
being honest. Finally, there is improper listening that can be eliminated through proper
training on listening skills
Procedures to be implemented at the depot to lower the accident rate
I will ensure proper training of the workers at the depot to improve on the listening
skills reducing risks of accidents. Shouting will also be implemented at the workplace to
ensure that individuals get what is being addressed correctly to reduce miscommunication
minimizing incidents of accidents. I will also ensure there is clear communication among the
employees and the employers to avoid instances of incorrect ordering that may cause injuries

SOCIOLOGY 4
to the workers. Furthermore, I will also set the rules and regulations and make sure that all
the workers follow them accordingly.
Communication of specific outcomes to all the workgroups
The workgroup is usually led by WHS representative whose role is to undertake the
inspection at the depot. The specific issues related to the accidents need to be addressed to the
WHS representative. The WHS representative then discusses the outcomes to the workgroup
and the possible solutions can be suggested. The suggested solutions will be communicated
through notice boards and other means of communication to reach all the employees and
workers. The supervisors also need to put emphasize on the possible outcomes so that
accidents come to a halt.
Steps to be undertaken while following the WHS issue raised to WHS
representative.
The best action that I will take to follow up the raised issue is to communicate with
the WHS committee indirectly. The role of the WHS committee is to enhance the cooperation
between the worker and the PBCU. I will talk to one of the workers who will present the
issue to the committee. The committee will then link with the PBCU, and the issue is
addressed. The feedback may follow the same procedure to reach the required person. The
issues also may be reached to workers and employers using posters and notice boards.
The key requirements regarding the primary duty of care
The primary duty of care requires that the employees and the workers need not be
endangered in any way. The duty of care ensures the safety and health of self or others (Furci,
& Sunindijo, 2018). The duty of care also ensures that the WHS issues are resolved in time.
The duty of care also provide protection to the workers and conduct consultation with
employees to discuss the possible penalties of the legislation.
The relevant WHS and or OHS Acts in Victoria

SOCIOLOGY 5
Occupational health and safety are one of the relevant Act in Victoria. The main
objective is to ensure health, welfare and safety of the employees and other workers
(Campbell, 2016). The act also protects the health and safety of all the individuals who may
be affected by the work. All the workers are usually protected by the WHS act including the
contractors and employees. Acts also work to eliminate risks, safety or welfare at the source.
The Act is also supported by the occupational health and safety Regulation.
The purpose of organization policies, procedures, process and systems for WHS.
Establishment of standards and practices that accompany needs to follow concerning
the submission of safety Act and work health is the main purpose of organization policies
(Haas, & Yorio, 2016). The systems create good work relationships between the workers and
company owners. The workers ensured the protection of the company from hazards and
injuries. The policy also works to provide a safe work environment to all the employees and
minimize the company cost for sending the works to consult doctors after injuries.
How supervisors could support each other to raise issues in the scenario
The supervisors need to establish the appropriate measures to ensure correct handling
of manual techniques. The supervisors have to conduct meetings and consultations to solve
the matter. Rules and regulations should be created by the supervisors at the depot to ensure
that the instructions are followed accordingly. The handling manual need to be organized by
the supervisors so they are simplified to enhance easy understanding by the workers.
Supervisors also need to teach the workers on the importance of following instructions.

SOCIOLOGY 6
References
Regan, & Fettell, (2017). Workplace law: Industrial manslaughter offence: New era for
WHS. Proctor, The, 37(11), 28.
Campbell, T. (2016). The obligations and risks imposed on directors by workplace
laws. Governance Directions, 68(9), 530.
Furci, J., & Sunindijo, R. Y. (2018). Impacts of the WHS Act 2011 on safety management in
small and medium construction companies. International Journal of Construction
Management, 1-11.
Haas, E. J., & Yorio, P. (2016). Exploring the state of health and safety management system
performance measurement in mining organisations. Safety science, 83, 48-58.
Jenifer, R. D., & Raman, G. P. (2015). Cross-cultural communication barriers in the
workplace. International Journal of Management, 6(1), 348-351.
Wells, V. K., Taheri, B., Gregory-Smith, D., & Manika, D. (2016). The role of generativity
and attitudes on employees home and workplace water and energy-saving
behaviours. Tourism Management, 56, 63-74.