As Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs), you are often the first line of defence in identifying and responding to unsafe practices in the workplace. One of the most concerning trends reported by SafeWork SA is that serious incidents, including fatalities, often stem from workers taking shortcuts. These shortcuts, once repeated and unchallenged, become the accepted way of doing things. When unsafe practices are no longer seen as deviations but instead become part of the “system of work,” this signals a deeper issue: a breakdown in the organization’s safety culture.
This normalization of risk occurs when employees routinely bypass established safety procedures without consequence. Over time, what once might have raised alarms becomes routine. It’s in these moments that HSRs play a critical role. We must work not only to identify physical hazards but also to challenge and correct the behaviours and attitudes that allow unsafe practices to thrive.
The concept of “See it. Hear it. Report it.” is a simple yet powerful tool for tackling this issue head-on. It encourages every worker to actively engage in maintaining a safe environment. As an HSR, you can embed this message in daily conversations, toolbox talks, and safety briefings. Encourage workers to be alert, not just to visible hazards, but to what they hear and sense as well. Comments like, “We always skip that step,” or “It’s quicker if we just do it this way,” can be warning signs of dangerous habits taking root. These should never be ignored.
A strong reporting culture is essential. Workers must feel safe and supported when they raise safety concerns. If reports are ignored, or worse, if workers face backlash for speaking up, the entire system collapses. As HSRs, it’s vital to advocate for non-punitive, anonymous reporting mechanisms and to work closely with management to ensure every report is taken seriously. Equally important is providing feedback, showing workers that their concerns led to action not only builds trust but reinforces the importance of vigilance.
Why Speaking Up Is Powerful
Encouraging workers to report problems isn’t just about avoiding injuries. It creates:
Speak up and say no to unsafe work
Why Don’t worker Speak Up?
“I don’t want to get in trouble.” – Some workers fear their manager might think they’re causing problems.
“Nothing will change anyway.” – When people report issues and nothing happens, they stop trying.
“That’s not my job.” – Some workers think safety is only for the safety officer or manager to handle.
“What if they laugh at me?” – Many are scared of being judged or made fun of, especially if others think the issue is small.
“I’ve raised it before – nobody cared.” – If management doesn’t take reports seriously, workers stop speaking up.
Silence in the workplace doesn’t mean “everything is fine.” It often means:
A strong workplace is where everyone talks, everyone listens, and no one gets hurt.
HSRs can influence culture by supporting and modelling safe behaviour, challenging unsafe norms, and ensuring that all workers, new and experienced alike, understand that safety is not negotiable. Unsafe behaviours must be unlearned and replaced with safer, sustainable practices. This process requires continuous education, not just about procedures but about the real-world consequences of taking shortcuts.
Ultimately, supporting the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) in preventing injury or death comes down to embedding safety into every layer of the organization. Unsafe practices cannot be allowed to become the standard. By encouraging workers to “See it. Hear it. Report it,” and by creating a culture where safety concerns are acted upon, HSRs can help lead the way in restoring and reinforcing a genuine safety-first mindset.
