Occupational health and safety training requirements in the workplace fall into two broad categories: internal and external training. Internal training is specific to the company’s particular risks, equipment, and work processes and is developed and delivered in-house, usually by a Health and Safety Officer. External training, on the other hand, is facilitated by an accredited health and safety training provider, either on site or at the provider’s training centres.
What are internal health and safety training requirements?
The purpose of internal health and safety training is to ensure that employees are aware of site-specific hazards and risks and understand the company’s health and safety policies, procedures, and management system. As such, the particulars of internal training will depend on the company’s particular working environment, work activities, hazards and risks, and policies.
Internal health and safety training requirements may include the following:
- Health and safety orientation is usually conducted when onboarding new employees and covers the company’s health and safety policy, the location of emergency exits, firefighting equipment and first aid boxes, reporting procedures, PPE requirements, etc.
- Fire and evacuation drills should be conducted twice a year and should include all employees.
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work procedures (SWPs) ensure that employees know how to use tools, equipment, and substances safely and follow company-specific work procedures.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) training is essential to ensure that employees are aware of the correct way to inspect, use, clean, and store all PPE required for their role.
- Contractor health and safety induction ensures that contractors and visitors are aware of and adhere to company health and safety policies and procedures to assist in preventing incidents and accidents and to allow them to follow evacuation procedures, should it be required.
- Toolbox talks and pre-shift safety briefings are essential for keeping task-specific hazards and safety protocols front of mind.
- Awareness initiatives and refresher training are used to reinforce health and safety training learnings and company health and safety requirements.
What are external health and safety training requirements?
It is simply not feasible for businesses to conduct all necessary health and safety training in house. To meet the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, employers are required to provide their staff with health and safety training facilitated by accredited training providers. This includes training in firefighting, evacuation planning, and Health and Safety Representative, and is particularly true in the case of first aid certification, which the OHS Act specifies must be obtained from a training provider approved by the Chief Inspector of the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL).
What accreditation do occupational health and safety training providers need?
When selecting an occupational health and safety training provider, it is essential to ensure that your chosen provider carries the necessary accreditation. In particular, look for accreditation by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), which is the regulatory body responsible for developing and accrediting all occupational skills programmes in South Africa.
Selecting a QCTO-accredited training provider ensures that the training materials, training venues, facilities, instructors, assessors, and assessments are of a high quality. It also ensures that the training is compliant with the standards and requirements set out by the OHS Act.
What are the core health and safety training requirements for businesses in South Africa?
For most businesses in South Africa, there are five core health and safety training requirements to consider:
- First aid training
- Firefighting training
- Evacuation planning training
- Health and Safety Representative training
- Health and Safety Supervisor training
Depending on the size, risk profile, and nature of your business, additional health and safety training may be required, for example:
- Health and Safety Officer training
- Hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA) training
- Incident investigation training
- Stacking and storage training
- Occupational Health and Safety Act training
- HAZMAT training
- HIV/AIDS awareness training
- Advanced firefighting training
- Intermediate or advanced first aid training
First aid training
Course outcomes: First aid training equips delegates to recognise and treat common injuries and medical emergencies, administer lifesaving first aid procedures like CPR, effectively hand over to the emergency services, and maintain first aid kit contents.
Assessment: Assessment includes both theoretical and practical elements
Duration: Two days
Cost: R975.00 ex VAT
Firefighting training
Course outcomes: Firefighting training equips delegates to fight small fires using a fire extinguisher, perform Fire Warden inspections, maintain firefighting equipment, assist with implementing fire prevention programmes, assist with fire risk assessments, assist with fire drills and evacuation procedures, and liaise with the emergency services.
Assessment: Assessment includes both theoretical and practical elements
Duration: One day
Cost: R825.00 ex VAT
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Evacuation planning training
Course outcomes: Evacuation planning training familiarises delegates with the legal requirements around emergency exits, evacuation floor plans, and emergency preparedness. Delegates are trained to conduct effective evacuation drills, respond to specific emergency scenarios, and liaise with the emergency services.
Assessment: Assessment includes both theoretical and practical elements
Duration: One day
Cost: R825.00 ex VAT
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Health and Safety Representative training
Course outcomes: Training equips Health and Safety Representatives to fulfil their functions and meet their responsibilities confidently and effectively. Training covers key sections of the OHS Act, incident investigation procedures, hazard identification and risk assessment procedures, and the Health and Safety Representative inspection checklist.
Assessment: Assessment includes both theoretical and practical elements
Duration: One day
Cost: R825.00 ex VAT
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Health and Safety Supervisor training
Course outcomes: This essential training for Health and Safety Supervisors includes an overview of important sections of the OHS Act, the Health & Safety Team organogram, the role of Health and Safety Supervisor, hazard identification and risk assessment procedures, incident investigation and reporting procedures, and evacuation planning.
Assessment: Assessment includes both theoretical and practical elements
Duration: Two days
Cost: R1,295.00 ex VAT
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Contact FAFST to discuss your company’s health and safety training requirements
Providing the right health and safety training for your team is an essential aspect of ensuring that your company is compliant with the OHS Act. First Aid, Fire and Safety Training is an accredited provider of first aid, firefighting, and occupational health and safety training. Contact us to discuss your company’s unique needs, or to book your training.