Safety reps are appointed by the union. The appointment of safety reps from recognised trade unions is provided for by section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA). Under Regulation 3 of the SRSCR, the right to appoint safety reps is restricted to independent trade unions, recognised by the employer. A trade union is “recognised” by an employer when it negotiates agreements with employers on pay and other terms and conditions of employment, known as collective bargaining. Recognition is another way of saying the employer is prepared to deal with the union concerned. There is more information about trade union recognition in the Labour Research Department (LRD) annual employment law handbook, Law at Work.