RISK & INCIDENTS · 1 DAY · CAPE TOWN
Health and Safety Representative training
Your health and safety representatives are your eyes on the floor. This one-day course teaches them their legal duties under the OHS Act, how to inspect their area and report what they find, and how to work with the health and safety committee. We present health and safety representative training at your workplace in Cape Town.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Prerequisites
- Able to read and write
- Delivery
- On-site at your workplace
Who should attendAppointed health and safety representatives and health and safety committee members
A vital role, if it's managed well
Health and safety representatives (SHE reps) play a vital role in legal compliance, provided they are trained and managed properly. Section 17 of the OHS Act requires employers with more than 20 employees in a workplace to designate representatives. Section 18 sets out what those representatives may do.
A well-trained representative helps the health and safety committee meet the goals of your OHS management system and the Act. Supervisors, representatives and committee members together form a strong defence against injuries and losses. The course includes practical work on the thinking skills reps need to spot risks themselves.
What delegates will be able to do
After the course, representatives can define safety practices, apply the legal requirements and perform their duties properly. They'll have the processes and techniques to evaluate safety standards in their area, and to act before something goes wrong.
- Explain the legal requirements that apply to SHE representatives
- Describe their duties and functions as a representative
- Explain how the representative and the committee work together
- Recognise common health and safety hazards in the workplace
- Understand the basics of occupational health
- Carry out and record a workplace inspection
- Report and help investigate incidents
Course modules
- Legal requirements
- Duties of health and safety representatives
- Functions of the representative and the committee
- Health and safety in the workplace
- Occupational health
- Inspection requirements
- Incident investigation and reporting
Who should attend
Newly appointed health and safety representatives, and members of your health and safety committee. For experienced representatives, or if you want a longer practical component, choose the Advanced Health and Safety Representative course.
The law behind the roleThe Acts and regulations behind this service
| Law | Section | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| OHS Act 85 of 1993 | Section 17 | Employers with more than 20 employees in a workplace must designate health and safety representatives |
| OHS Act 85 of 1993 | Section 18 | Sets out the functions of representatives, such as inspections and incident investigation |
| OHS Act 85 of 1993 | Section 19 | Employers with representatives must set up one or more health and safety committees |
What delegates receive
Each delegate receives a certificate of completion for your training records.
How many health and safety representatives do we need?
Section 17 of the OHS Act requires employers with more than 20 employees in a workplace to designate representatives. In shops and offices, it's at least one representative for every 100 employees. In all other workplaces, it's at least one for every 50 employees. Representatives must be full-time employees who know the workplace.
What is the difference between the 1-day and the 2-day course?
The one-day course covers the legal duties, inspections and reporting a new representative needs. The 2-day advanced course adds risk identification and assessment, communication techniques and a full practical component. It suits experienced reps and committees that want to take on more.
Can representatives be held liable?
Section 18 of the OHS Act gives representatives functions, such as inspecting and reporting. It also states that a representative doesn't incur civil liability just because they failed to do something they may do under the Act. The legal responsibility for health and safety stays with the employer.
Get in touch
Book Health and Safety Representative training
Tell us how many representatives and committee members you need to train, and your preferred dates.
- Phone064 549 5312
- Emailinfo@bmsholdings.co.za
- AddressThe Colosseum, First Floor, Century Way, Century City, Cape Town, 7441