Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.28 
Safety Repr
esentatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977

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Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
384
An exempt document is one:
➤
which could endanger national security
➤
which could cause substantial commercial injury on 
the employer
➤
contravenes a prohibition
➤
that relates to an individual without their consent
➤
which has been obtained specifi 
cally for legal 
proceedings.
17.28.6 Safety committees – Regulation 9
When at least two safety representatives have requested 
in writing that a safety committee is set up, the employer 
has three months to comply. The employer must consult 
with the safety representatives and post a notice stat-
ing its composition and the workplaces covered by it, in 
a place where it can be easily read by employees. The 
guidance gives details on the composition and running 
of safety committees.
17.28.7 Complaints – Regulation 11
If the employer fails to permit safety representatives time 
off or fails to pay for time off, complaints can be made to 
an industrial tribunal within 3 months of the incident.
17.28.8 References
HSC, Safety Representatives and safety committees 
(The Brown Book) Approved Code of Practice and 
Guidance on the Regulations, third edition, L87, 1996 
HSE Books
ISBN0-7176-1220-1
17.29 
Health and Safety (Safety Signs 
and Signals) Regulations 1996
17.29.1 Introduction
These regulations came into force in April 1996. The results 
of the risk assessment made under the Man agement of 
Health Safety at Work Regulations will have identifi ed situ-
ations where there may be a residual risk when warnings 
or further information are necessary. If there is no signifi -
cant risk there is no need to provide a sign.