Role typology for health and safety representatives

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of a health and safety (HS) representative role typology that demonstrates how representatives enact their roles and improve occupational health and safety (OHS) under New Zealand law. It aims to consider the factors that influence the roles that HS representatives' assume. Design/methodology/approach -This qualitative, cross-perceptual study centres on the role enactments of eight HS representatives at two metal manufacturers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with HS representatives, managers, workers, senior managers, OHS managers and a union convenor. "Types" were differentiated by the HS representatives' purpose, activities and OHS impacts. Findings -In total, four HS representative role "types" were identified: administrators, workshop inspectors, problem solvers and craft experts. Administrators implemented and operated OHS management systems and improved OHS management. Workshop inspectors undertook compliance and monitoring roles and improved workers' attitudes towards OHS. Problem solvers found solutions to control hazards and improved production from an OHS perspective. Craft experts applied technical knowledge to influence strategic OHS decisions. Role enactment appeared to be influenced by representatives' expert power, job roles and the organisational role definition. Representatives operating under both managerial and worker defined HS representative systems, increased worker "voice" by providing an avenue to redress OHS concerns. Practical implications -Implications arise for OHS policy, HS representative training courses and organisational/managerial support. Originality/value -The paper presents a HS representative role typology distinctively based on cross-perceptual data that also provides a more holistic perspective of the HS representative role by considering representatives' purpose, role enactment and OHS impact.

Systematic review of qualitative literature on occupational health and safety legislation and regulatory enforcement planning and implementation

“…Some posed the question of which workers best represent their peer's OHS needs. Harris et al (37) found that workplace technical experts, who might match the traditional "inspector role", did not necessarily have a stronger impact on workplace OHS than administrative workers. Their examination of implementation in New Zealand workplaces of a newly legislated worker OHS participation role found that workers welcomed having any type of worker within their workplace as a legitimate channel to voice OHS concerns and provide avenues to solve them.…”

From employee representation to problem-solving: Mainstreaming OHS management

“…Qualitative research on the role of OHS representatives has the potential to include among others the context and to study the perspectives of different stakeholders, and a number of interesting qualitative studies dealing with the role of OHS representatives have been published over the last few years (e.g. Frick, 2013; Hall et al, 2006; Harris et al, 2012; Hovden et al, 2008; Rasmussen et al, 2014; Sjöström, 2013; Walters and Nichols, 2007, 2009). Here we emphasize three of these studies since they also deal with some kind of typology of the OHS representatives’ role, although they arrive at different types than us.…”

“…While these results are from a European context, they may not be transferable to the Danish context, which still remains highly organized, especially compared to Spain. In another study, Harris et al (2012) identified four role types for OHS representatives: administrators, inspectors, problem solvers and craft experts. These studies are mainly based on the specific approach or role taken by the individual OHS representative.…”

How do safety engineers improve their job performance? The roles of influence tactics, expert power, and management support

“…Safety engineers may use pressure tactics to remind managers of their obligation to abide safety laws and protect their workers' safety (Harris et al, 2012;Winterfeld et al, 2012). However, management support is crucial for safety engineers as it provides them with task-oriented support such as resources and access for them to carry out their job (Shanock and Eisenberger, 2006;Walters and Nichols, 2006;Winterfeld et al, 2012).…”