Afroteq Academy, the expert training provider for the built environment, has announced an exciting line-up of new and extended Health & Safety training courses that will be offered this year. According to Natasja Ware, Afroteq Academy Manager, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago has highlighted the important role of Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) officers in the workplace.

“The appointment of OHS representatives is a legal requirement. To enable OHS representatives to function optimally, they must undergo training that will not only help them create a safe working environment, but also empower them to identify any risks or hazards that might endanger their fellow employees. We believe our courses address a major need for training that is endorsed, easily accessible, outcomes-based aligned and covers all the most important and necessary elements,” Natasja says.

Established in 2002, Afroteq Academy was one of the first FM training providers to be endorsed by the South African Facilities Management Association (SAFMA) and achieve accreditation for two of its short training programmes by the Services SETA. Today, Afroteq Academy offers a wide range of accredited FM qualifications and training programmes that are aligned to the Facilities Management ISO 41001:2018 standard. All courses are presented online and facilitated in-person by practising practitioners and subject matter experts who are enthusiastic about skills development and bridging the FM industry's skills gap. The following Occupational Health & Safety training courses are offered:

Occupational Health & Safety Application

The Occupational Health and Safety Application Course is ideal for building managers, facilities managers and co-ordinators, maintenance managers, project and technical managers, SHE representatives and any person who is responsible for maintaining health and safety in the workplace.

Upon completion of this 3-day, NQF 4 course, delegates will be able to explain the basic principles of the Act and accompanying regulations, explain the requirement for minimum compliance stipulated in the Act, interpret the management controls required to achieve compliance and explain the obligations in terms of communication and training. Delegates will also understand the role and responsibilities of facilities management in the workplace, the OHS Act, plans and procedures that need to be followed, how to build an emergency plan, ergonomic risks and practical considerations and various operational OHS matters, such as asset management, budgeting and expenditure control, request for quotation processes, contract management and access control and security.

Occupational Health & Safety Legislation

The Occupational Health and Safety Act is crucial for keeping every South African employee safe. It dictates that employees need to take reasonable care to protect their own safety and of others who may be affected by their work activities.  Any situations which may be unsafe or unhealthy must be reported. Without this  legislation, there would be no legal protection against the workplace becoming a dangerous environment.

The 2-day, NQF 4 OHS Legislation course explains the compliance requirements stipulated in the current laws. Upon completion of the course, delegates will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of the relevant statutes,  determine the required management controls to achieve compliance, understand the record-keeping required by the legislation and explain the legal obligations of the employers relating to training and communication.

more 2/…  

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993’s Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA), is vital to ensure health and safety within the workplace. Employers must prove that they act responsibly, ensure they have put measures in place to prevent accidents and preserve the health of their workforce.

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment is a 2-day, NQF 3 training course that will empower delegates to explain the legal and specified requirements for conducting continuous risk assessments, initiate remedial action and follow up on continuous risk assessment.

OHS Incident Investigation

A proper OHS incident investigation follows specific protocol and aims to identify the events that led to the particular incident. The South African Occupational Health & Safety Act stipulates the investigating officers' requirements, functions and responsibilities. Incident and accident investigation training is therefore essential to ensure safe workplaces by identifying risk areas and any areas or actions that must be changed to prevent further incidents or accidents, analyse the efficiency of safety systems and prevent repeats of similar incidents.

After completing a 1-day, NQF 3 OHS Incident Investigation course, delegates will be able to explain the specified requirements of conducting workplace incident investigations, prepare and gather data for the inspection and perform post-investigation functions.

Occupational Health & Safety Representative

Because Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Representatives play a critical role in ensuring that work-related hazards, risks and dangers are mitigated through good communication between management and employees, this 1-day, NQF 2 course aims to give delegates a clear understanding of the framework within which workplace OHS representatives need to operate. It specifies requirements to efficiently conduct OHS activities within safety, health and environment structures and addresses safety, health and environment-related issues within the scope of their authority.

Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA)

The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) 130 of 1993 sets out the legal requirements for tariffs, compensation, and the limitations for claims for workers who are injured or contract diseases while they’re at work. It aims to safeguard workers when injured and ensure that businesses support their compensation by paying their tariffs. It has become critical for all businesses to understand the logistical processes, how the registration system works and the applicable tariffs.

This 1-day, NQF 2 training programme unpacks the benefits of the COIDA to employers and employees and describes the procedures to claim compensation and complete the necessary documentation.

Handyman Training: hand and power tool safety

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the greatest hazards involved with hand tools result from misuse and improper maintenance. Power tools tend to pose more obvious threats, and there are many required and recommended safety measures associated with them.

more 3/….

“We are introducing a new 1-day, NQF 1 handyman training course for handymen and their assistants, maintenance technicians and artisans to ensure they know how to handle tools properly and improve safety in the workplace. Although large equipment might seem like a more threatening problem, effective training on the safe use of hand and power tools is equally as important,” Natasja says.

The training programme is aligned to OHS requirements and will equip delegates with the knowledge of how to identify and select the right tools for the job, how to use and maintain hand and power tools, and how to respond to an emergency.

Conclusion

“The Occupational Health and Safety Act is vital to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. The onus rests on employers to prove that they have put the necessary measures in place to prevent accidents and preserve the health of their workforce. Ensuring that employees are kept safe and that the workplace is well maintained and fully functioning is what drives our passion for training. Whilst most people act instantly and instinctively when facing a dangerous situation, we believe it is always better to approach such an incident with a reasoned plan that is based on sound training and situational awareness,” Natasja concludes.

Afroteq Academy, the expert training provider for the built environment, has announced an exciting line-up of new and extended Health & Safety training courses that will be offered this year. According to Natasja Ware, Afroteq Academy Manager, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago has highlighted the important role of Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) officers in the workplace.

“The appointment of OHS representatives is a legal requirement. To enable OHS representatives to function optimally, they must undergo training that will not only help them create a safe working environment, but also empower them to identify any risks or hazards that might endanger their fellow employees. We believe our courses address a major need for training that is endorsed, easily accessible, outcomes-based aligned and covers all the most important and necessary elements,” Natasja says.

Established in 2002, Afroteq Academy was one of the first FM training providers to be endorsed by the South African Facilities Management Association (SAFMA) and achieve accreditation for two of its short training programmes by the Services SETA. Today, Afroteq Academy offers a wide range of accredited FM qualifications and training programmes that are aligned to the Facilities Management ISO 41001:2018 standard. All courses are presented online and facilitated in-person by practising practitioners and subject matter experts who are enthusiastic about skills development and bridging the FM industry's skills gap. The following Occupational Health & Safety training courses are offered:

Occupational Health & Safety Application

The Occupational Health and Safety Application Course is ideal for building managers, facilities managers and co-ordinators, maintenance managers, project and technical managers, SHE representatives and any person who is responsible for maintaining health and safety in the workplace.

Upon completion of this 3-day, NQF 4 course, delegates will be able to explain the basic principles of the Act and accompanying regulations, explain the requirement for minimum compliance stipulated in the Act, interpret the management controls required to achieve compliance and explain the obligations in terms of communication and training. Delegates will also understand the role and responsibilities of facilities management in the workplace, the OHS Act, plans and procedures that need to be followed, how to build an emergency plan, ergonomic risks and practical considerations and various operational OHS matters, such as asset management, budgeting and expenditure control, request for quotation processes, contract management and access control and security.

Occupational Health & Safety Legislation

The Occupational Health and Safety Act is crucial for keeping every South African employee safe. It dictates that employees need to take reasonable care to protect their own safety and of others who may be affected by their work activities.  Any situations which may be unsafe or unhealthy must be reported. Without this  legislation, there would be no legal protection against the workplace becoming a dangerous environment.

The 2-day, NQF 4 OHS Legislation course explains the compliance requirements stipulated in the current laws. Upon completion of the course, delegates will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of the relevant statutes,  determine the required management controls to achieve compliance, understand the record-keeping required by the legislation and explain the legal obligations of the employers relating to training and communication.

more 2/…

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993’s Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA), is vital to ensure health and safety within the workplace. Employers must prove that they act responsibly, ensure they have put measures in place to prevent accidents and preserve the health of their workforce.

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment is a 2-day, NQF 3 training course that will empower delegates to explain the legal and specified requirements for conducting continuous risk assessments, initiate remedial action and follow up on continuous risk assessment.

OHS Incident Investigation

A proper OHS incident investigation follows specific protocol and aims to identify the events that led to the particular incident. The South African Occupational Health & Safety Act stipulates the investigating officers' requirements, functions and responsibilities. Incident and accident investigation training is therefore essential to ensure safe workplaces by identifying risk areas and any areas or actions that must be changed to prevent further incidents or accidents, analyse the efficiency of safety systems and prevent repeats of similar incidents.

After completing a 1-day, NQF 3 OHS Incident Investigation course, delegates will be able to explain the specified requirements of conducting workplace incident investigations, prepare and gather data for the inspection and perform post-investigation functions.

Occupational Health & Safety Representative

Because Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Representatives play a critical role in ensuring that work-related hazards, risks and dangers are mitigated through good communication between management and employees, this 1-day, NQF 2 course aims to give delegates a clear understanding of the framework within which workplace OHS representatives need to operate. It specifies requirements to efficiently conduct OHS activities within safety, health and environment structures and addresses safety, health and environment-related issues within the scope of their authority.

Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA)

The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) 130 of 1993 sets out the legal requirements for tariffs, compensation, and the limitations for claims for workers who are injured or contract diseases while they’re at work. It aims to safeguard workers when injured and ensure that businesses support their compensation by paying their tariffs. It has become critical for all businesses to understand the logistical processes, how the registration system works and the applicable tariffs.

This 1-day, NQF 2 training programme unpacks the benefits of the COIDA to employers and employees and describes the procedures to claim compensation and complete the necessary documentation.

Handyman Training: hand and power tool safety

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the greatest hazards involved with hand tools result from misuse and improper maintenance. Power tools tend to pose more obvious threats, and there are many required and recommended safety measures associated with them.

more 3/….

“We are introducing a new 1-day, NQF 1 handyman training course for handymen and their assistants, maintenance technicians and artisans to ensure they know how to handle tools properly and improve safety in the workplace. Although large equipment might seem like a more threatening problem, effective training on the safe use of hand and power tools is equally as important,” Natasja says.

The training programme is aligned to OHS requirements and will equip delegates with the knowledge of how to identify and select the right tools for the job, how to use and maintain hand and power tools, and how to respond to an emergency.

Conclusion

“The Occupational Health and Safety Act is vital to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. The onus rests on employers to prove that they have put the necessary measures in place to prevent accidents and preserve the health of their workforce. Ensuring that employees are kept safe and that the workplace is well maintained and fully functioning is what drives our passion for training. Whilst most people act instantly and instinctively when facing a dangerous situation, we believe it is always better to approach such an incident with a reasoned plan that is based on sound training and situational awareness,” Natasja concludes.