Final answer:
D) Government intervention to resolve the issue
When a trade union fails to select a health & safety representative, it does not lead to automatic selection, disqualification, nor an extension of the deadline. Instead, it may result in government or employer interventions to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a trade union fails to select a health & safety representative, the consequences depend on the specific legal framework governing workplace health and safety within the jurisdiction. Generally, failing to select a representative does not lead to automatic selection by the government, disqualification of the trade union, nor a simple extension of the selection deadline. In many cases, there can be different outcomes ranging from government intervention to employer actions that seek to ensure that health and safety regulations are being followed, which could involve additional measures to facilitate the selection of a representative or other compliance efforts.