EDUCATION & TRAINING (Issue 7)

Work Safely Training

The pilot Work Safely Training programs have been successfully completed, and the remaining training programs are being carried out in the second half of 2002.

Presented by the CMPA in association with Box Hill Institute of TAFE, the next round of sessions are to be held in Horsham, Ballarat, Melbourne, Traralgon and Benalla.

The training centres on the roll out of the CMPA Work Safely Reference Manual (formerly the Induction Manual), and is invaluable for employees, contractors and regular visitors to our sites.

Safe- practices are obligatory under the Extractive Industries Development Act. People successfully completing the training sessions are presented with an Extractive Industries Certificate II – Work Safely competency, and a CMPA Industry Induction Card.

Benefits of training include:

• meeting obligations under the OH & S management system guidelines;
• creating a greater awareness of employer, employee, contractor and supplier responsibilities;
• creating a productive learning environment on site;
• completion of an accredited foundation competency of the Extractive Industries Training Package;
• assistance in employee career development;
• An increased understanding of safety implications and potentially an ability to minimise exposure when submitting insurance claims.

The cost is $150 per participant for members ($165 non-members), which includes the CMPA Work Safely Reference Manual. Sessions run from 9am to 4pm.

Additional courses will be held so if you cannot attend the above sessions, please contact the CMPA for further details, however as numbers are limited to 20 participants per session, it’s best to get in early.

Bookings must be made through the CMPA, phone 03 9745 2132.

WELL funding

The CMPA is going to reapply for WELL funding for 2003 to ensure continued training opportunities give access to everyone in the industry.

It is anticipated funding would be used for training to “Meet site quality outcomes”, and a second core unit of Certificate II.

Occupational Health & Safety training – the way forward

CMPA members Allan Wilkins, Ron Kerr and Grant Phillips met with representatives from the Ashley Institute and the Box Hill Institute in April to clarify the objectives of education and training opportunities presented through the national competency system.

To achieve best practice, it was determined that there needed to be a consistent approach to education and training, which could be facilitated by an external audit of program providers to ensure the quality of materials and delivery.

The Ashley Institute representative Jim Turner said there were synergies that could be developed between themselves and Box Hill Institute.

Ron Kerr said the Work Safely training programs held to date had received exceptionally positive feedback; however there was a need to conduct on-site assessment, provide development manuals for sites, and to increase training opportunities on site.

He said training had to keep pace with changing information, increased technological capabilities and regulatory requirements.

Issues with the current competency system included:

• employers do not understand the requirements and implications of their involvement;
• there is a need to develop industry workplace trainers;
• opportunity exists to create a mentor “industry champion” program for people coming into the industry;
• the certificate system is currently under review;
• There were gaps in the delivery of training due to some site locations, and site numbers.

It was recommended that organizations need to have training programs for individual employees, and that supervisors and managers had to lead the commitment to occupational health and safety.

The CMPA resolved that the Institute of Quarrying will be approached for assistance on the matter of education requirements.

The Victorian Skills Training Advisory Board has recommended that either letters of support be sought from Institute Directors and the audit be carried out by the State Training Authority (STA), or a co-operative review be carried out without the involvement of the STA, but using auditors that would normally contract their services to the STA.

The CMPA has resolved that audits be carried out on all RTO’s it recommends.

Box Hill Institute is requested to submit to the CMPA a proposal to introduce Certificates II and III on a permanent basis in 2003 based on the CMPA’s current proposal. Issues to be addressed include regional training and quality of training materials.

Extractive Industries Steering Committee raises certificate and diploma issues

The CMPA has raised several issues with the Extractive Industries Steering Committee April meeting.

Issues included:

• There is a need for evidence to confirm providers are on a level playing field when presenting offers to the customers (quarry owners). This may be achieved through an audit on the quality of the training
• There is a lack of understanding by many quarry owners about the options and approaches a company can take in regards to training
• The issue of the number of units in each training certificate had not been resolved
• The issue of units per certificate could be addressed by the CMPA and EIA; however it may become specific to Victoria.

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