HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE STAGE 1 TRAINING

US 29315 Describe the role of and functions of the Health and Safety Representative in a New Zealand workplace
Level 3 Credit 2

Why is the law changing?

We have a problem in this country. Too many New Zealanders die or are seriously hurt while working. In comparison with other similar countries, our workplace health and safety record is woeful. Every year:

  • 52 people die on the job
  • Hundreds more are seriously injured
  • 600-900 die from work-related diseases.

Something has to change. We all need to work smarter and work together to do something about it.

On 4 April 2016, the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) came into force bringing new responsibilities for everyone in the workplace. The new law is part of a reform package aimed at reducing the number of serious work-related injuries and deaths in New Zealand by at least 25 percent by 2020.

Everyone who goes to work deserves to come home healthy and safe.

US 29315

The purpose of this standard is for representatives to explain and demonstrate the overall role and functions of a Health and Safety Representative in a New Zealand workplace. Representatives awarded with this standard will be able to:

1. Explain the role and functions of the Health and Safety Representative under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and its Regulations

2. Explain the role of a Health and Safety Representative as an advocate for workers

3. Identify the obligations of a PCBU and WorkSafe New Zealand towards the Health and Safety Representative

4. Describe the risk management process and the importance of communicating with workers and management

5. Describe and demonstrate the powers and obligations that a health and safety representative has in terms of issuing a provisional improvement notice (PIN) and how and when to direct a worker to cease unsafe work.

While this unit standard is not a high level unit it is a big unit in terms of training and in understanding the new roles and responsibilities under the Act. It is a full 2 days training.