May 2024 update on the progress QCTO is making replacing SETA unit standards with QCTO skills programs
By following the correct process the three QCTO first aid skills programs were established in September 2023. These programs are live and I encourage you to apply for them. This remains a success story and I encourage everyone to try their best to be productive during this SETA unit standard to QCTO skills program chaos. There is much fear and loathing.
To get QCTO first aid accredited get in touch, I’m here to help. Or buy our QCTO aligned first aid manuals here.
HWSETA is the QCTO appointed QAP for occupational health and safety courses. Sessions are currently being run on Mondays and the curriculums are still under development, but getting closer.
Please download the updated working spreadsheet here provided by Ben van As, the HWSETA appointed curriculum development consultant. This is the file from the last session (6th May 2024).
Stakeholders and subject matter experts who participated in the last meeting include Alistair Farish, Cyril Kitching, Elmerie van Rooyen, Michele Bowmer, Sisinyana Matshego, Victor Bvurere, Willem Coetzee, myself (Reuben Jensen, Lime Green Training) and some members of SAPS who also contributed. Thanks for giving up time to help produce and make these programs happen.
We worked on the OHS Supervision program. Others shortlisted and at advanced stages of development include those on the spreadsheet. E.g. Legal Liability, Employee Representation, Incident Investigations, Hazard and Risk Assessments, OHS inspections and Audits, OHS Supervision, Specialised OHS Roles, and more.
Here is the letter QCTO sent HWSETA approving their application for a list of 18 OHS skills programs. These are the ones under development.
A common question I am being asked is “Are we not replacing hundreds of OHS short courses with just a few new programs?” See related article.
Ok, so we started getting some response from LGSETA on this, but then this was quickly dampened as LGSETA are only showing interest in the renewal and revision of the fire qualification. Albert at LGSETA is showing little to no interest in taking action to meet the need for any fire skills programs.
I have asked stakeholders to email Albert. I cannot tell how many did. It has not resulted in action by LGSETA though. They have not requested QCTO permit them to create any fire skills programs as per the process (see 10 point list at bottom of page).
We have raised this issue in the OHS sessions we are attending with Ben van As (HWSETA’s consultant for QCTO skills programs in that sector) and there is discussion. We have re-opened the question “does this type of fire program really fall under LG SETA?” Are these programs about government coordination or about occupational health and safety? I’d like to be careful before assuming too much since I am not a subject matter expert on fire. I can say that there was some discussion moving in the right direction as far as fire and its consideration as a component of OHS.
So there is very little smoke or fire on this… My office prioritised first aid, and that succeeded in September 2023. I am now prioritising OHS and that is making progress with other stakeholders.
I have admittedly given much less of my effort to fire, but this is a choice I made. The resources my office gave to first aid were 99% funded by Lime Green, and the resources my office is giving to OHS is 100% funded by Lime Green. Other stakeholders are also helping and giving freely of their time and priceless expertise.
Feel free to get involved and help bring the programs you need to life.
I received an update from Nigel Shipston on this. He has made progress. In March he said the programs he submitted were awaiting approval. This week he says they are approved and scoping sessions are being held and organised (started two weeks ago (at time of writing) and more are booked). This is part of the process, so well done there Nigel. It’s late (not Nigel’s fault of course), but at least it’s moving.
Nigel also says that QCTO made an application to SAQA to extend some unit standards in OHS in Feb. I think he means this list / letter. That was covered in my March update article. These are not general OHS programs but regulatory ones related to machinery.
Nigel says there is no communication from government about whether or not this extension has been granted yet. He seems to believe the extension will be granted though.
I contacted Dr Alti Kriel. When I compare her feedback to the March feedback it seems her application to QCTO was approved. That means the development of the programs can start as per the process. She added that it must go through the SETA. This makes sense, IFWH is a professional body, and QCTO generally wants the application to come via their appointed QAP for that sector (which in this case is CETA).
I’m not sure what she means by approved vs it must go through the SETA, but it does sound further along than it was before. I’m sure IFWH is communicating this to stakeholders. This is just an update; my office is focussed on the OHS programs as above.
Please see this article. I wish Lime Green could assist every industry move their programs forward but unfortunately we cannot and must take a focused approach.
