Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Safety Representatives and Safety Committees 
Regulations 1977
Under these regulations, the appointment of representa-
tives is undertaken in writing by a recognised trade 
union who will then inform the employer of the name of 
the representative and the group of employees they will 
represent.
A safety representative does not require any 
specifi c qualifi cations to fulfi l the role, but the minimum 
requirement should be at least two years’ service with 
the present employer or two years in similar employ-
ment. Once appointed, a safety representative remains 
in the position until they resign the appointment, leave 
the employer or the nomination by the appointing trade 
union is withdrawn.
There is no statutory requirement on the number 
of representatives required for a particular size of 
workforce. The guidance notes offer the advice that 
when determining the numbers appointed, consideration 
should be given to:
➤
The total numbers employed
➤
The variety of the different occupations involved
➤
The size of the workplace and the locations involved
➤
Particulars of shift systems and
➤
The inherent dangers of the work activities.
Functions of the representatives
It is important to note that representatives are given func-
tions only, as opposed to duties. A function is defi ned 
as an activity that a safety representative is permitted 
to carry out by legislation but does not have a duty to 
perform. It is, therefore, treated as an advisory action. 
A safety representative cannot be held accountable for 
failing to carry out a function or for the standard of the 
advice given when performing a function, and the HSE 
has issued statements to the effect that no action will be 
taken against them in respect of these regulations.
This does not mean that representatives have no 
duties at all. They are still required to act reasonably 
and to cooperate with the employer, but there are no 
additional
duties under the SRSC Regulations.
The reason for this specifi cation was that if a 
representative were to be held liable for advice he gave 
to management, or for not carrying out safety inspec-
tions, for example, there would be a severe shortage of 
those willing to volunteer for the role and safety culture 
would suffer accordingly.
The main functions are as follows:
1. To take reasonably practical steps to keep himself 
informed of:
(a) 
The legal requirements relating to the health 
and safety of people at work, particularly the 
group of people they directly represent

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