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WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY (WHS)
makes industry statement clarifying Formal Training
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) seeks to clarify the intent of Formal Training which must take place prior to any time being accumulated in a log book.
Section 18 and section 25 of the Workplace Heath and Safety Regulation
2008 (the regulation) mandates who has authority to perform high risk work and earthmoving or particular crane occupations. Both sections require the operator to be either a licence or certificate holder, or a trainee.
Section 31 of the regulation mandates that a person is a trainee, if they are receiving formal training and informal learning, in an earthmoving or particular crane occupation or high risk work, under a training plan and log book. As such, without a training plan and log book, the person is not considered a trainee. Accordingly, if the person does not hold the relevant licence or certificate, and is not a trainee, the person and his employer are in breach of the regulation.
The requirements for what a training plan must state are mandated at section 33 of the regulation.
Schedule 18 of the regulation defines the following:
Formal training means training involving theory and practical demonstration. This means, training provided by an approved person, which covers all the elements from the unit of competency. Informal learning means workplace experience. This means, experience gained operating the plant in the workplace and logged in the log book or in a simulated work environment.
Section 32 (3) of the regulation states:
For the workplace experience in the use or operation of plant to be treated as informal learning for a trainee, the trainee must have already received formal training in the use or operation of that plant.
This means that prior to accumulating time in a log book (informal learning) the trainee must undertake formal training.
WHSQ seeks to clarify that the formal training, which must be provided prior to the trainee going onto the log book, must include all of the elements from the unit of competency. This must include both the theoretical and the practical components. Documented records must be kept outlining the dates of the formal training, who provided that training and the content of the training.
An assessment does not need to take place at the completion of the formal training, the trainee can move straight to the log book at that stage and on completion of the log book, both theory and practical assessments can be undertaken. However, if the RTO and trainee wish to undertake the theory assessment at the completion of the formal training, then that is also considered appropriate. (Note: If the trainee cannot complete the log book (informal learning) and be assessed in the performance within 6 months of the theory (underpinning
Knowledge) assessment being undertaken, the trainer/assessor must reassess the applicant again in the underpinning knowledge prior to undertaking the practical assessment).
It should be noted that the log book must be completed prior to the practical assessment being undertaken. Remembering the theory assessment must be completed before the practical assessment.
In summary:
1. A training plan must be established for the trainee.
2. Formal training, covering all the elements of the unit of competency, including both theory and practical, must be provided by an approved person.
3. At this point the trainee may undertake the theory assessment.
4. The trainee's informal learning is logged in the log book.
5. The trainee undertakes the theory assessment if not completed prior to the log book.
6. The trainee undertakes the practical assessment.
7. If competent, the trainee makes application for a licence.
WHS Safety Alert - Side lift Operators
Workplace Health & Safety have released a safety alert on the Safe Operation of container sidelifters. Major suggest that any operators of sidelifters refer the link below. The purpose of this alert is to inform all businesses and people who operate container sidelifters of the risk of injury when using this equipment to transfer a container from one vehicle to another.
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/alert-container-sidelifters.pdf
WHS Compliance and enforcement
Workplace Health & Safety Have released notice that they intend on focusing on compliance of Concrete pumping equipment in an effort to reduce accidents and/or injuries whilst working towards a safer industry. Please refer to the link below to find out more.
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/publications/safe/sep09/concretepumping/index.htm
TLISC recommends overhaul of industry training
The following article appeared in the Australian Trucking Association "The Friday Facts" on the 9th October, 2009
TLISC recommends overhaul of industry training http://www.atatruck.net.au/
The trucking industry could see a massive shift in how it trains staff, if a proposal by the industry's training advisory body is approved.
The Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Centre (TLISC) believes that unless a more rigid approach to training is adopted, the industry will continue to see a workforce without the correct qualifications.
The TLISC's training package specialist, John Gilbert, told councilors at the recent ATA General Council meeting that the current system is in desperate need of review.
"There are a lot of issues with the current system. It's full of holes," John told councilors.
"It has the potential to be used well, but there are too many loopholes that people can use to qualify without the skills necessary for their role.
"There are people in the industry, with a current Level 3 Certificate in Road Transport, who have never driven a truck; they've never even been in one.
"As long as they completed the required 21 units, even if those units have nothing to do with the industry, they qualify for the certificate.
"There are thousands of people in the trucking industry who have gained a certificate who have never been required to learn about OH&S, about load restraints, fatigue or even how to drive a vehicle."
As part of its advisory role, TLISC was tasked by the Australian Government to review the program and develop ways to improve the qualifications of those who undertake the training.
In its response, it recommended an overhaul of the program, including that:
- all units undertaken in the program are aligned to the job role;
- gaining an appropriate licence is contained within the program;
- there are a selection of specialized core units that everyone has to complete; and
- The elective units are relevant to the industry.
Mr Gilbert said that while the qualification would still be not compulsory, the overhaul would supply the industry with graduates who have a better understanding of their roles and the entire trucking industry.
The ATA's Skills and Workforce Committee are reviewing the proposal and will present a report to General Council on a number of issued raised on the changes.
Our thoughts:
Major Operator and Driver Training Service found these comments both refreshing and encouraging because this is always what we have strived for in our training and assessing environment and we couldn't agree more with the comments.
The working model of our RTO has always been to make the training and assessment relevant to the Transport and Logistics Industries. We have invested a lot of time and money in to creating our unique simulated working environment so that we could give students the opportunity to experience training and assessment in a place that was as close to the real thing as possible.
This has been a bonus for our PPP students that we have been putting through for the last 2 years. Successful students have been put through a specific training plan that has been developed with heavy industry involvement so that we could ensure that the Units that were on the completion certificates were ones that would be relevant to a potential employer.
Standard units include Follow OHS Procedures, Load Restraint, Follow Induction / Orientation procedures and Drive Vehicle.
We also included as part of our program, training and licenses/tickets for trucks and forklifts. As a RTO we realised that a piece of paper with 21 units was not enough so we invested time to train people in the safe and efficient use of vehicles so that our successful students had a good starting platform to offer an employer.
This view point also extends to our trainees who are already in the industry. In a world that is becoming more and more qualification driven, it was important to Major Training Group to be able to offer the opportunity to employers to reward good workers with the ability to up-skill and have their extensive experience in the industry recognised with a valid qualification instead of just 20 years experience and a driver's licence.
We take the time to consult with all of our client companies and students to ensure that we create a training and assessment path that fits what the individual's needs are. The idea of a one size fits all has never been a good way to do business and there is nothing that is more diverse than the Transport and Logistics industry. Major prides itself on being able to offer flexible options to suit all types of transport environments and the skills and extensive industry backgrounds of our Trainer- Assessors means that we can always put the right person on to the job. Our staff can not only walk the walk but talk the talk. They have been there and done that and know the challenges that are being faced by the transport industry.
Major Training Group congratulates the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council for taking a proactive view to cleaning up the training environment and we look forward to being able to offer all of our clients the same high level of service that we have always done.
Funding Approval & Association
Major is please to announce our strong working relationship with CSQ - Construction Skills Queensland gets stronger. We hope to see this association grow in the coming months and years to further assist the construction industry in Queensland. This relationship has also seen Major gain approval for funding "Skills Assessment & Gap Training" or RPL funding for those individuals working in the industry to gain formal recognition of their existing skills. Check out CSQ's website for more information. http://www.csq.org.au/
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