Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 1 Please read this before using presentation This presentation is based on content presented at the 2008 Mines Safety Roadshow held in October 2008 It is made available for non-commercial use (e.g. toolbox meetings) subject to the condition that the PowerPoint file is not altered without permission from Resources Safety Supporting resources, such as brochures and posters, are available from Resources Safety For resources, information or clarification, please contact: or visit

Toolbox presentation: Effective consultation

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety What is consultation? Process by which management discusses the development of systems, policies, practices and issues of mutual concern with employees or their representatives Does not remove right of managers to manage – but does oblige them to seek and consider employees’ views on issues affecting workers before decisions are taken Two-way communication rather than directives Reaches an outcome that is satisfactory to all parties, and moves towards a safer and healthier work environment 3

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety How to consult 4 Planning to achieve acceptable outcome

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety How to consult 5 Nature of issue? Whose issue is it? Is it manageable?

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety How to consult 6 Who may affect or be affected by this issue? Other workgroups? Contractors? Involve SHReps? Involve S&H committee? Involve head office?

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety How to consult 7 Is objective well defined? What do you want to achieve?

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety How to consult 8 Are skills and knowledge of all stakeholders sufficient? What about communication skills? Is timing realistic? Is a budget required? Avoid information overload

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety How to consult 9 Does it suit structure and culture of organisation or group? Formal versus informal

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety Types of consultation Formal Informal Importance of recording process and results, and reviewing and monitoring 10

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety Challenges Aggression Passivity 11

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety Resolving issues Having problems? Go to mining FAQs page 12

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Resources Safety 13 Ken Woodward, “Lessons from a Blind School” “ The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place at all.”