Consultation with Employees: Turning Conversations into Safer Work
Short, regular conversations with the people who do the job are often the best route to safer, more reliable work. This post shows how to make those conversations simple, credible and productive.
Why consultation builds stronger safety culture
Three key reasons regular employee consultation transforms workplace safety
Legal duty
Meeting with employees regularly to discuss health and safety is a legal requirement that many businesses overlook.
Shared direction
Strong safety culture requires everyone pulling in the same direction with shared goals and objectives.
Active engagement
Creating opportunities to exchange views and engage with workers drives meaningful safety improvements.
Building effective consultation systems
Turning legal requirements into practical workplace improvements
Regular consultation with employees creates genuine opportunities for exchanging views and engaging workers in safety decisions. The approach is straightforward: invite short, focused input from the people doing the work and act on what you hear.
A small change with a big effect
At 07.55 a busy warehouse team held a ten minute briefing by the loading bay. The driver mentioned a near miss involving a swinging door. Operators explained how the delivery queue line fades in low light and how the door, when propped, blocks sightlines. Two simple fixes followed in hours: a mirror was repositioned, the queue line repainted and a wooden wedge stopped the door swinging. No long meeting, no committee. A small conversation led to visible change that reduced risk and stopped the hazard from recurring.
Why short talks matter
People closest to the task see the problems first.
Short, frequent talks keep controls current and practical.
When workers help design methods they are more likely to follow them.
The legal position in plain terms
What the law requires and what inspectors expect
Employers must consult employees or their representatives on health and safety matters. In practice, that means discussing:
Inspectors will ask who was consulted, what changed and how you close the loop. Keep short notes and evidence of action. That is the practical proof.
How to make consultation work week to week
Keep it short and frequent
Ten minutes at the start of shift on a single topic is far more effective than a long meeting once a month.
Make it about today's job
Use photos, a near miss, or seasonal conditions to focus the talk.
Ask early
Bring people in before methods or layouts are locked so solutions are practical.
Make feedback simple
A card box, a QR form or a message group works. The vital part is acting on what you hear.
Close the loop
Post "you said, we did" updates where everyone can see them.
Typical barriers
Practical fixes
Link consultation to your risk cycle
Make consultation part of the assess, implement, monitor and review loop:
Assess
Consult before you finalise the method.
Implement
Brief roles and responsibilities with pictures and prompts.
Monitor
Use inspections and near miss reports to spot drift.
Review
Feed learning back to the assessment and consult on changes.
How Compass HSC helps
We design short, repeatable consultation rhythms that fit your shifts. We can run initial sessions, produce simple task prompts and templates, and show how to keep records that stand up to inspection. For ongoing support we offer retained packages that keep the checks and actions on track through the year.
Contact usStart simple, build trust
Start small. Ten focused minutes, one action, and a visible update. That pattern builds trust, reduces risk and makes the safety system practical. Brian's draft nails the duty. The approach above makes it happen in day to day work.
About Brian Lambert
Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS), the founder of Compass Health & Safety Consultancy (HSC), is a Chartered Member of IOSH and an accomplished IMaPS professional. With decades of industry experience, Brian is dedicated to guiding businesses of all sizes through the complexities of health and safety management.
His approach is built on integrity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to raising the standard in health and safety. As a trusted advisor, Brian's insights help organisations enhance compliance, reduce risk, and boost operational efficiency.