Employee voice in Australian OHS : evidence from stakeholder submissions

The difference between union voice and employee voice was emphasised with the adoption of Robens-style health and safety legislation in the 1980s by requiring direct worker participation in OHS matters through consultation, health and safety representatives and committees. By examining arguments in over 100 key stakeholder submissions to the National Review of health and safety regulation in Australia, this paper seeks to assess the extent to which worker participation in safety matters is in reality an employee voice mechanism. While there is evidence that it could be, the majority of employer organisation submissions examined reveal worker participation is given a subordinate status to the defence of managerial prerogatives. We suggest this finding is likely to have a negative impact on reducing work-related safety risks.