Product Overview

The Consultation and Communication Procedure is a professionally drafted work health and safety document designed specifically for Australian workplaces. It provides a clear, step-by-step framework for how your organisation will consult with workers, contractors and other duty holders, and how critical WHS information will be communicated across all levels of the business.

This procedure aligns with Australian WHS legislation and accepted best practice, helping you demonstrate that you are consulting so far as is reasonably practicable on matters that affect health and safety. It is ideal for inclusion in your WHS management system or safety documentation suite and can be easily tailored to suit your operations, size and risk profile.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage of WHS consultation requirements, including when and how consultation must occur.
• Clearly defined responsibilities for officers, managers, supervisors, workers, HSRs and WHS personnel.
• Practical guidance on consultation mechanisms such as WHS committees, toolbox talks, team meetings and remote consultation methods.
• Structured process for planning, conducting and recording consultation on changes, hazards and risk controls.
• Detailed section on communication of incidents, hazards, safety alerts and procedural changes.
• Templates and checklists embedded in the procedure to support consistent implementation and WHS compliance.

Benefits

• Supports legal compliance with WHS consultation duties under Australian work health and safety laws.
• Reduces WHS risk by ensuring workers are actively involved in identifying hazards and shaping control measures.
• Strengthens safety culture through clear expectations, open communication and genuine worker participation.
• Saves time by providing a ready-to-use, structured procedure rather than drafting your own from scratch.
• Improves consistency of WHS communication across multiple sites, projects and work groups.
• Provides strong evidence of due diligence and proactive safety management during audits, inspections or incident investigations.

Who is this for?

This Consultation and Communication Procedure is ideal for:

• Small to large Australian businesses seeking robust safety documentation.
• Safety managers, WHS advisors and coordinators building or upgrading a WHS management system.
• HR and compliance professionals responsible for policies and procedures.
• Business owners, directors and officers needing assurance that consultation obligations are being met.
• Contracting and labour-hire businesses that must coordinate WHS responsibilities with clients and other PCBUs.

Legislation & References

This document has been developed with reference to key Australian work health and safety legislation and guidance, including:

• Work Health and Safety Act and Work Health and Safety Regulation (jurisdiction-specific).
• Model Code of Practice: Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination.
• Relevant industry codes of practice and WHS guidance material.

By implementing this Consultation and Communication Procedure, your organisation can demonstrate a structured, compliant approach to worker consultation, enhance WHS performance and build a safer, more engaged workplace.