HSR elections
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are elected to represent their work group on health and safety matters.
On this page:
Eligibility to be elected
A worker can only be elected as an HSR for the work group that they belong to.
A worker is not eligible to be elected if they have already been disqualified under section 65 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).
Conducting an HSR election
The workers in a work group may decide how an election of an HSR is to be run.
If the majority of the workers in the work group agree, an election can be conducted with assistance of a union, other person or organisation.
Once the workers agree to an election date, the person conducting the election must inform the relevant person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)/s as soon as practicable.
When agreeing on an election process, workers from the work group may agree on how to resolve it if there is a tied vote. For example, this could include:
- the tied nominees determining who the HSR is
- a recount of the votes
- a fresh vote
- pulling the name out of a hat.
Under section 18(2)(b) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (WHS Regulation), all workers in a work group must be given an opportunity to vote in the election of an HSR for the work group and to nominate for the position of HSR.
Responsibilities of the person conducting the election
The person conducting the election must take all reasonable steps to ensure:
- all workers in the work group can nominate themselves or another eligible member of the work group for election as an HSR (unless the person has been disqualified under section 65 of the WHS Act), and to participate in the vote
- all workers in the work group and all relevant PCBUs are notified of the election outcome
- separate elections are held for each work group where more than one work group exists
- the election of an HSR is not unreasonably delayed.
When an election isn’t required
An election isn’t required if the number of HSR nominees equals the number of HSR vacancies.
Term of office of HSRs
Under section 64 of the WHS Act, an HSR for a work group holds office for a term of three years and is eligible for re-election at the end of that term.
An HSR is eligible for re-election as long as they have not been disqualified from acting as an HSR.
A person ceases being an HSR for a work group if they:
- resign from their position by providing written notice to their PCBU
- cease to be a member of the work group that elected them
- are disqualified from acting as an HSR under section 65 of the WHS Act, or
- are removed from office by a majority of the members of their work group in accordance with section 20 of the WHS Regulation.
Electing deputy HSRs
Under section 67 of the WHS Act, a deputy HSR for a work group is to be elected in the same way as an HSR for the work group.