The Role of WHSOs & WHSRs
WHSO and WHSR are roles which staff adopt in addition to their normal duties, in order to assist with the management of health and safety at the local level. The WHSO should be a management nominee with the seniority to raise and clarify Health and Safety aspects within the normal decision-making process of the work area.
The WHSR and QWHSR are elected by the staff at the workplace as their representative regarding health and safety issues at the local level.
For further information on WHSO, WHSR, and Committees refer to the following link to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/legislation/consultation/index.htm
Who should attend?
- Staff nominated by management to fulfil the role of WHSO
- Staff elected by their co-workers to fulfil the role of WHSR and QWHSR
- Manager/supervisors/Staff
- Internal Audit staff
Course Information
Workplace Health and Safety Officer, Representative and Recertification Training
The suite of training for the annual QUT WHSO, WHSR and Recertification courses will be delivered in house and free (paid for by HR) during February/March 2010. David Randall and Associates will be delivering the courses. All local work areas and H&S committees need to consider their H&S related appointments, coverage and training needs. Please ensure all appointees are current to ensure compliance and reduce liability for QUT and individuals operating in these roles. It is recommended that staff operating on local H&S committees undertake WHSR training. Advice needs to be provided to Health and Safety Advisory Services on any new or changed appointments made to add staff to the H&S network and update records.
Courses Conducted:
Workplace Health and Safety Officer (7 days) Core Module and Module 6 Services*
* those requiring construction module need to complete this module externally at the cost of the local area.
Workplace Health and Safety Officer Recertification (2 days)
Workplace Health and Safety Representative (3 days)
*Workplace Health and Safety Representative Recertification (2 days) – on hold until courses have been updated to include Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) training.
Note - while this course is not mandatory nor recertification required, pending changes to H&S legislation will make it mandatory and recertification every 5 years by July 2009.
2010 Course Dates:
Workplace Health and Safety Officer (7 days) Core Module and Module 6 Services – 4th - 10th February 2010 & 10th - 11th March 2010
Workplace Health and Safety Officer Recertification (2 days) – 11th - 12th February 2010
Workplace Health and Safety Representative (3 days) – 1st - 3rd February 2010
Times: all courses run 8:30am – 5:00pm
Venue: all courses will be held in the Training Room, Level 1, 88 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
Register for one of the above courses
Non attendance and cancellation within 48 hours of course commencement date will incur a cost. Assistance with registrations can be provided by Health and Safety Advisory Services if required, contact the section Administrative Officer (HR - Health and Safety Advisory Services) on extension 89271.
As this is an opportunity to undertake these courses with a dedicated university focus, free of charge (costs are now around $1700 externally for the WHSO course), please consider your work areas needs and appoint additional positions where relevant.
External Providers of WHSO/WHSR Training
Staff may consult the following link for a list of training organisations that conduct WHSO/WHSR courses. These are separate from the courses conducted at QUT.
http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/workplace/training/training/whso/training/courses/index.htm
Training courses for Workplace Health and Safety Officers, Workplace Health and Safety Officer re-certification and Workplace Health and Safety Representatives is scheduled by Health and Safety Advisory Services to occur at the beginning of the year and are conducted at QUT. An external consultant conducts the training courses. These courses will not run without a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 18 registrants per course.
Training records should be kept and maintained by the local workplace.