Workplaces are safer with a trained health and safety rep

CTU Media Release

14 January 2014

Workplaces are safer with a trained health and safety representative

Peter Conway, CTU Secretary says that workplaces are safer with a trained health and safety representative, and that ACC funded health and safety representative training is hugely valued by both employees and employers and is a good investment towards confronting our health and safety issues.

This programme trains workplace representatives on greater awareness of hazards and is hugely valued by workers and employers.

Peter Conway says “this is not some cosy deal.  Independent evaluation of the course undertaken in 2008 was very positive. We know that it delivers value for money - trained representatives are more likely to recognise hazards, and to know what kind of action to take to help mitigate the risks of those hazards. It is always hard to show that that this kind of preventative course reduces accidents per se, as it is difficult to quantify the value, this will always be an issue. But, a workplace is safer with a trained rep and that is what the CTU and ACC want to ensure.”

“We trained nearly 2000 health and safety representatives last year and the feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. 97 % felt they could perform the role of health and safety rep more confidently than before the course, 96 % said the course showed them how they could improve health and safety in their workplaces and nearly 99 % found that these courses were beneficial and helped with their understanding of the role and the importance of health and safety at work. Feedback has been consistently positive since we began these courses.”

“This is not a waste of money. Feedback that we get from employers is that these courses increase engagement in health and safety, they raise awareness of risks and hazards, and provide the reps with ideas and strategies to improve health and safety in their workplace.”

Peter Conway said that the CTU provides the ACC funded training free of charge to workers and employers and does not add on a management fee.

Peter Conway also noted that with increased requirements under pending health and safety legislation, the whole provision of training is being reviewed.

“The CTU is fully supportive of the review. For instance we would like to see more reps trained, a greater link for reps with health and safety inspectors, registration of reps and other areas of improvement”.

ENDS

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