OHS Skills Programme Development session continued..... Mon. Mar 4, 2024 Summary: The meeting began with a discussion about attendance, with Ben van As emphasizing the importance of recording attendance. The group then discussed the document structure, focusing on the clustering of existing skills programs and the development of new ones. They also discussed emergency preparedness and the development of a curriculum for skills programs in that area. The conversation then shifted to employee representation, with a focus on the training hours for safety representatives and the suggestion of different training levels. The participants also engaged in a detailed discussion about legislative targets and training requirements for health and safety representatives. The meeting continued with a discussion on the allocation of notional hours for a training program, with participants engaging in a debate about whether the allocated time aligns with the actual requirements of the program. The conversation then delved into the legal aspects of health and safety representative training, with a focus on the necessity of aligning with legal requirements. The group also discussed notional hours and course structure, with participants expressing their concerns about compromising on quality while striving for compliance. They proposed structuring the program into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels to meet overall requirements. The meeting also covered the understanding of credits and training duration, with Ben van As emphasizing that credits are not a measure of training duration but rather a time planning tool based on notional hours. The group then had a thorough discussion about the purpose statement of the basic skills program for occupational health and safety representatives, debating the inclusion of specific content related to OHS laws, regulations, and best practices. They also discussed the challenges of developing training programs that meet the requirements set by the QCTO and the Labour Relations Act, emphasizing the need to find practical solutions to the dynamics involved in the process. Finally, the group discussed the number of credits for a training course and the completion requirements, with a focus on ensuring alignment with legal requirements and catering to various industry needs. They also discussed the structure of basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of training, emphasizing the importance of making the programs work effectively and aligning with practical realities, such as the time constraints faced by employees. Overall, the meeting covered a range of topics related to health and safety training, with a focus on aligning with legal requirements and catering to industry needs. Chapters & Topics: Attendance and Welcome Ben van As and other participants discuss attendance, with Dawn Rachel Brown officially launching the meeting and expressing gratitude for everyone's contributions. The participants also welcome each other to the session, with Ben van As ensuring that attendance is recorded for the meeting. Document Structure and Skills Program Development Ben van As provides an overview of the document structure and the categorization of existing skills programs. He also discusses the development of new skills programs, the submission of applications to the QCTO, and the consideration of feedback from Michelle regarding the level of detail in the draft documents. Discussion on Employee Representation and Training Hours Ben van As leads a discussion on employee representation and the need to finalize the number of credits and timeline. The conversation also delves into the training hours for safety representatives, with a focus on the practical aspects and the suggestion of basic, intermediate, and advanced training levels. Discussion on Legislative Targets and Training Requirements Ben van As leads a discussion on legislative targets and training requirements for health and safety representatives. The participants highlight the need to include employer representatives and trade unions in the training, and emphasize the importance of aligning training with legal requirements. They also discuss the NQF level and cognitive abilities required for the training program. * Alignment of Course Content with Legal Requirements Discussion on Notional Hours for Training Program Ben van As leads a discussion on the allocation of notional hours for a training program, with a specific focus on the time allocated for identifying and reporting potential hazards to the health and safety of employees within a designated area. Delene and other participants express their views on whether the allocated time is appropriate, considering the nature of the task and the prior knowledge of the learners. The conversation also touches on the broader concept of notional hours and the QCTO requirement for skills programs. Discussion on Legal Requirements for Health and Safety Representative Training Ben van As facilitates a debate on the legal requirements for health and safety representative training, emphasizing the need to align with the law. The discussion delves into the distinction between employee and health and safety representative courses, as well as the implications of assuming training programs are law. Discussion on Notional Hours and Course Structure The section features a detailed discussion on notional hours and course structure, with participants sharing their perspectives on the allocation of hours for different training components. There is an emphasis on compliance with QCTO standards and the practical application of the training, as well as considerations for workplace requirements. * Duration of Health and Safety Representative Courses Discussion on Credits and Training Duration Ben van As leads a discussion on the concept of credits and training duration, emphasizing that credits are not indicative of the actual training duration but rather serve as a time planning tool based on notional hours. He clarifies that the certificate issued from a skills program does not expire and highlights the importance of refreshers to maintain capability. * Notional Hours and Credits for Training Programs Discussion on Course Introduction and Content Ben van As and an unknown speaker engaged in a detailed discussion about the purpose statement of the basic skills program for occupational health and safety representatives. They debated the inclusion of specific content related to OHS laws, regulations, and best practices, as well as the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees. The conversation also touched on the need for training committee approval and the involvement of the safety committee in the program. * Training Committee Sanctioning of Training Content Discussion on Duration of Health and Safety Courses Alastair expresses doubts about the possibility of completing health and safety courses in one day while meeting compliance standards, emphasizing the importance of sticking to the required hours. Ben clarifies that the duration is determined by the curriculum's assessment criteria and the level of assessment for each learning component, and discusses the need for proof of assessment and accreditation as a provider. Discussion on Program Development and Training Requirements Alastair, Ben, and other participants engage in a discussion about the development of training programs and the challenges of meeting QCTO requirements and legislative standards. They emphasize the importance of making the reality work and finding practical solutions to the dynamics involved in the process, while also considering the need to meet customer requirements. Discussion on Training Credits and Course Completion LimeGreenTraining.co.za expressed concern about potential non-compliance if a training course had too many credits, leading to administrative trouble. It was clarified that completion of the course could be achieved by passing an assessment without attending the course, in line with the principle of prior recognition of prior learning. The discussion also touched on the structure of basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of training, aligning with legal requirements. * Role of Prior Learning in Course Completion * Structure of Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Courses Key Questions: * What is the relationship between notional hours and credits for training programs, and how should they be allocated? * How can the training committee sanction the content of the training programs to ensure compliance with legal requirements? * Is it possible to do a health and safety rep course in one day and still meet the compliance requirement of eight credits notional hours? * How many days should the course be approximately if it is eight credits in duration? * Can a basic OHS rep course realistically be two days in duration? * What do employees have to do to actually complete the course? Notepad: * No notes