If you are a safety representative, you will find useful information here to help you do your work, and materials for you to use in your workplace.

Safety representatives have functions given by law.

• If you are a trade union-appointed safety representative then your functions are set out in the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.
• If you are a representative of employee safety then your functions are set out in the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996.

HSE supports the vital contribution safety representatives and trade unions make to maintaining and improving health and safety in the workplace. See examples of how HSE has engaged with trade unions.Find out more information on trade unions and safety representatives.

HSE places great importance on worker involvement and consultation, which has proved to be a significant aid to improving health and safety in the workplace. Guidance issued to Inspectors on consultation and involvement [PDF 264KB] is available, and you may wish to find out more about the trade union effect.

• Find out more about the Accident book and what the Data Protection Act (DPA) means for safety representatives.
• Working together to prevent sickness absence becoming job loss [PDF 92KB] provides information and practical advice on long-term sickness absence and return to work issues.

Whatever type of safety representative you are, you need information and materials to do your work. Find out how to help develop practical proposals for improving health and safety organisation in the workplace [PDF 132KB] and ; how to prepare and carry out a workplace health and safety inspection [PDF 243KB].

You can use these forms to record the results of your inspection.

• Inspection form [PDF 13KB]
• Report form [PDF 13KB]

Education employers and employees demonstrate that they recognise the contribution that partnerships make towards improving health and safety standards at work. Find out more, see the Safety Representatives' Charter [PDF 184KB].

To find out more information about trade unions visit:

• Trades Union Congress
• Scottish Trades Union Congress