Health & Safety Representative

Course Overview
Welcome as a participant in the five day approved training course for Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) under the Tasmanian & NSW Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation. The course meets the requirements of the WHS Regulations for HSRs elected under the WHS Act. The WHS Act commenced on 1 January 2012. The WHS Act and WHS Regulation provide a national WHS legal framework from which the states, territories and the Commonwealth are required to implement their own WHS legislation.

Course Structure
The course commences on:

• Day 1 with an overview of the WHS legislative framework; duties of various parties and key terminology. The role of WorkSafe Tasmania or SafeWork NSW and penalties for non-compliance is also discussed.
• Day 2 covers the requirements for consultation in the workplace on work health and safety issues and the mechanisms available. The role of HSRs and Health and Safety Committees (HSCs) and other available mechanisms is discussed as well as entitlements and protections.
• Day 3 of the course examines the consultative approach that can be used in resolving workplace health and safety issues through negotiation and conflict resolution and the skills HSRs can utilise to achieve successful outcomes. This day’s training also aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to identify hazards and ways in which they can be eliminated or minimised. The learning outcomes of Day 3 are reinforced with a practical exercise on:
• Day 4. Incident notification is discussed and activities demonstrating how HSRs can contribute to incident investigation are also undertaken.
• Day 5, the final day of the course, participants are provided with the information and skills HSRs require regarding the issuing of Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs) and directing unsafe work to cease where negotiation and issue resolution has been unsuccessful or immediate action is required. The course concludes with a summary and review of the course learning outcomes and discussion on sources of information that can assist HSRs in the continuous learning process.

Course Objectives
This course will provide participants with information and skills that will assist HSRs to carry out their role and functions under the WHS legislation including:

• an understanding of the new Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation;
• an understanding of how it applies to their role as elected Health and Safety Representatives(HSRs) and deputy HSRs; and
• the knowledge and skills necessary to use their additional powers under the WHS legislation to issue Provisional Improvement Notices and direct that unsafe work cease.

The course is intended to assist HSRs understand their roles and functions as to how the WHS legislation will influence health and safety outcomes in their workplace. The course aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their role as Health and Safety Representatives (HSR).

Course Target Audience
The target audience for delivery of this course includes all elected HSRs under the WHS Act who have requested approved training to gain an understanding of the management of work health and safety under the WHS legislation and their role and entitlements as HSRs.

Course Aims
The aims of this course are to provide HSRs with information and skills relating to:

• WHS Act legislative framework The role and functions of The Regulator Tasmania or SafeWork NSW and their interaction with HSRs
• Duties and responsibilities of PCBUs, officers, workers and other parties under the Legislation
• The nature of the consultation process with workers as required of the primary PCBU by the Act.
• The purpose and formation of a work group (or work groups) within the workplace Election process for HSRs / Deputy HSRs and disqualification provisions

Health and Safety Committees (HSCs) The entitlements, rights and protections of an elected HSR/Deputy HSR Using negotiation, communication and problem solving skills and strategies as a HSR to represent a work group and to resolve work health and safety issues Risk management and the use of risk controls, including the duties and responsibilities of various PCBUs under the legislation How HSRs can use their functions and powers to contribute to risk management activities in the workplace Provisional Improvement Notices and the right to cease, or direct the cessation of, unsafe work.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Persons eligible for the WorkSafe Tasmania or SafeWork NSW HSR Training are HSRs or deputy HSRs elected under the WHS Act.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
There are no provisions for RPL within the context of this approved training course.

RTO 600027 (SafeWork) and Trainer ID TR09310