Commission redesigns health and safety training for small employers

The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission has listened to the concerns of small business (less than 10 employees) and redesigned the requirements for occupational health and safety training.

Legislation that came into effect January 1, 2002, requires businesses with less than 10 employees to have a worker health and safety representative complete a health and safety training program, delivered by a trainer certified by the commission. This program was three days in duration and small businesses were concerned with having their employees away from the workplace for that period of time.

"The commission has been closely monitoring the delivery of this training since it began," says Labour Minister Anna Thistle. "Through representation from small businesses, the training program for worker health and safety representatives will be reduced from three days to one and one half days. The commission has listened and feels this is a workable solution and will still deliver the necessary health and safety material."

When the original training requirements were developed, it was felt that by having worker health and safety representatives participate in the same training program as occupational health and safety committee members from larger employers, the worker health and safety representatives would gain valuable insight and experience through interaction at the training sessions. Small business have indicated that this approach is not responsive to their particular needs.

"This training has to work for employers and it has to work for employees, and the adjustment to the training program should now do that," added Minister Thistle.

The new training program for worker health and safety representatives will be available to training providers certified by the commission by March 22, 2002. The requirements for business with 10 or more employees has not changed.

Media contact:

Rebekah Winsor, Communications, (709) 729-1741
Lana Collins, WHSCC, (709) 778-1223

2002 03 11                       10:30 a.m.