VIEU Training

OHS Training

All employers have an obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (the Act) to provide a working environment that is safe and without risk to health. The elected Health and Safety rep has a right to take time off work, with pay, to perform their duties and to take part in any accredited training course. 

For example, once elected, health and safety representatives and deputy health and safety representatives must be allowed by their employer to attend an initial 5 day course in health and safety. Employers must also allow health and safety representatives and their deputies to attend refresher courses at least once a year and also to attend any other training approved by the Victorian WorkCover Authority. The obligation of employers to train health and safety representatives and their deputies is clearly set out in Sections 67-69 of the Act. 

Section 67 of the Act obligates employers to pay course fees and any other expenses associated with health and safety reps and deputy reps attending training. Such costs include travel to and from the course venue where this is greater than travel to your normal workplace, accommodation, meals and incidental expenses. Health and safety reps and deputy reps must provide their employer with at least 14 days notice of their intention to attend training. 

OH&S Five Day Introductory Course
This is a Victorian WorkCover Authority approved course under section 67 of the Act. the course was developed by the Victorian Trades Hall Occupational Health and Safety Unit and adapted by VIEU to meet the specific needs of health and safety reps in the non-government sector.

The 5-day courses presented by VIEU are very popular and there is always a waiting list for participants. We are able to offer four courses in 2008, but due to their popularity we suggest you register early. The course provides health and safety reps with knowledge, skills and confidence to enable them to exercise their powers for the purpose of representing members of their designated workgroup.

This is a course specifically for health and safety reps. This course is not designed or intended to meet the training needs of principals or workplace managers who have a duty to manage safety in the workplace. VIEU offers a 3-day course to meet the health and safety training needs of principals and other workplace managers.

Please Note: The VIEU member first policy DOES NOT apply to this course. 
Cancellation fees apply: see below 

Cancellations notified to VIEU less than 4 weeks prior to course starting date will attract a fee of $300 if the vacancy so created is unable to be filled. This fee applies to members and non-members.

Occupational Health and Safety Refresher Courses 
These one day courses are presented by VIEU.
Refresher courses are designed for health and safety reps and deputy reps that have completed a 5-day initial training course. The courses are approved by the Victorian WorkCover Authority under section 67 of the Act. The focus of the refresher course is to update reps on changes to the Regulations and Compliance Codes.

Date:	Code:
Tuesday 15 April	HS82
Wednesday 28 May	HS84
Tuesday 19 August	HS88
Monday 27 October	HS89
Time:	9.00 - 4.30
Venue:	tbc
Cost:	$210 for VIEU members and Non-members

OH&S Skills and Knowledge for Principals and Workplace Managers
This is a 3-day course designed for VIEU principal members and management nominated health and safety officers.
The aim is to provide principals with a working knowledge of the basics of managing health and safety. While it is possible to enrol for a single day, preference will be given to those enrolling for all three days.
participants will be asked to undertake a small workplace project between days 1 and 2. Please note the VIEU Member First Policy applies to this course.

Day 1
Day 1 explores the hazard management approach to health and safety. participants will examine how to identify workplace hazards, assess risks and determine priorities for risk control. Employer duties imposed by the Act will be examined, with an emphasis on the management of contractors. The election of health and safety reps, employer obligations to health and safety reps, and the operation of Health and Safety Committees will also be examined.

Day 2
Part 4 of the OHS Act 2004, the duty of employers to consult, is a specific requirement of the Act. This day will focus on how effective consultation with health and safety reps can improve OHS outcomes. Participants will also examine the process of resolving OHS issues in the workplace along with other basic elements of a health and safety management system.

Day 3
Day 1 and 2 of this course introduced participants to a number of elements of health and safety management systems. Following a self-evaluation of their workplace health and safety management system, participants will develop an action plan for continued improvement of the system at the workplace level. Using an example from their workplace, participants will present a case study of how they identified and controlled a health and safety issue in their workplace. Each case study will contribute to a database of solutions to be shared with other participants.

School Officer/School Assistant Occupational Health and Safety Seminar
This course is aimed at all school officers and school assistants.

School officers and school assistants face a range of occupational health and safety issues within the work environment daily. Ranging from issues as diverse as the storage of chemicals in laboratories to ergonomic design of the school office, the seminar will cover a range of occupational health and safety issues that pertain directly to non-teaching staff. Participants will be encouraged to nominate any specific areas they wish to be covered prior to attending the seminar to ensure that training is tailored to individual needs.

Date:	Code:
Thursday 16 October	HS811
Time:	1:00 - 4:00
Venue:	120 Clarendon St, Southbank
Cost:	Free for VIEU members $50 for non-members

Health and Safety Reps Network Meetings
In first term a Health and Safety Rep Network Hazard Seminar Day will be held in lieu of network meetings. All reps are encouraged to attend.

Date:	Code:
Friday 29 February	HN81
Time:	10:00 - 3:00
Venue:	120 Clarendon St, Southbank

Network Meetings
These meetings provide an invaluable opportunity for current and prospective Health and Safety Reps in each region to attend 3 hour briefings on OHS developments and to share issues and ideas with other participants.
These meetings will be held from 10:00am to 1:00pm at various venues, further information will be circulated before each meeting.

• List of OH&S Reps Network Meetings