New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice (Level 4)

On completion of this e-learning course you will be able:

• Implement, supervise, monitor, and communicate organisational and job specific health and safety requirements and practices, for a team in the job specific workplace.
• Utilise leadership skills to promote the benefits of good workplace health and safety practices and a proactive health and safety culture within a team.
• Apply knowledge of health and safety risk analyses and mitigation strategies for a team in the workplace.
• Recognise the impact of work-related ill health and injuries on a specific business operation and wider industry.

This qualification is designed for people who have, or are intending to have, a workplace health and safety function as part of their primary role.

Trainees must have an appropriate level of work/industry experience. Ideally, they should have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a workplace health and safety role and have completed the New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice (Level 3) or be able to demonstrate an equivalent qualification, knowledge or skills.

Trainees must be able to develop, prepare, and implement health and safety processes, documents, and procedures. Additionally, they must be able to prepare for, conduct, and report on a work-related health and safety audit.

Trainees must be able to provide evidence of oversight of health and safety systems and processes in an organisation.

This is a paper-based distance learning programme requiring candidates to submit a comprehensive portfolio of evidence. Trainees will be supported by a dedicated mentor/assessor throughout the programme.

Due to copyright restrictions, Vertical Horizonz New Zealand are unable to provide the following resources/reference documents:

• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines.
• AS/NZS 4804:2001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – General guidelines on principles, systems and supporting techniques.

Your Commitment

Depending on how much study time you can commit, and whether you will be studying full or part-time, the programme could take between 6 and 9 months to complete.

By enrolling in this programme, you commit to a screening interview* and to submitting your assignments within the specified timeframes. For example, you must ensure the achievement of a minimum of 10 credits within 3 months from the commencement date of this programme.

*Please note that enrolment into this programme involves a screening interview.

Course Location

This is a paper-based distance learning programme with most of the communication being electronic (i.e., via email). Therefore, you will need access to a computer/laptop and an internet connection. It will also be of benefit if you have access to a scanner/photocopier.

Note: Some aspects of the programme, such as candidate screening, progress checks, pastoral care calls, etc., may be conducted via mobile phone, Teams or Zoom calls.

Course Context

To successfully complete this programme, and in order to meet the evidence requirements, assessment needs to be undertaken in the context of the workplace.

As such, you will be required to gain access to your organisation’s data, processes, documents, and procedures. You will also need to engage and consult with others within your organisation, and maybe even contractors, customers, and suppliers.

Verification of Evidence

Your manager will be required to verify that the work and evidence you are submitting for assessment is your own. They are not required to determine the quality of the work submitted. However, they will be asked to consider any recommendations you may make in reports and confirm whether these recommendations are consistent with organisational requirements.

Course Fees

Course fees are non-refundable and must be paid in full once your enrolment in the programme has been confirmed.

Course Materials

Course materials will be emailed to you once full payment of the course fees has been received. The materials will be sent in three batches: one for each of the Compulsory Unit Standards, commencing with 5607, then 5616, and finally 5619. Batches 2 and 3 will only be released once the previous unit standard has been completed to the satisfaction of the Assessor.

Follow our easy 4 STEP process to ensure your enrolment with us is quick and easy.

STEP ONE: Expression of Interest

Once you ‘click’ on the Expression of Interest link below, you will be asked to complete an Expression of Interest form.

You will need:

• Personal Information – to include full legal name, date of birth, address, etc.
  A form of ID, such as:
  - A birth certificate; or
  - A NZ passport or other country passport plus any relevant visa information.
  - A marriage certificate or name change certificate – only required if the name on your application differs to that shown on the documents provided.
• Work experience.
• Academic/educational information (such as your existing qualifications).

STEP TWO: Screening Interview

Once we receive your Expression of Interest, one of our programme Assessors will contact you to arrange a screening interview. The purpose of this interview is simply to ensure that potential candidates fully understand the commitment they are about to make in terms of time, effort and money, and that they have a suitable level of knowledge and experience to complete the programme.

STEP THREE: Application Process

Following a successful interview, you will be emailed a Competenz enrolment form, which must be completed and returned to us for processing. Depending on the time of year this may take a few weeks. 

If Competenz approve your enrolment you will be notified, and the process will move to Step 4 below.

Note: If Competenz decline your application you will not be able to enrol in this programme, however, we still may be able to offer you an alternative learning pathway.

STEP FOUR: Acceptance

If approved, you, or your employer, will be sent an invoice for the course fee. On receipt of full payment, one of our programme coordinators will email to you the essential information and course materials required to begin your first unit standard.

Your Assessor will then make contact to ensure that you fully understand what is required for that element of the programme.

At this time your Assessor will also discuss and agree times and dates for periodic progress calls, etc.

Submitting Your Expression of Interest

Once you have fully read the above information and are ready to proceed, please click here to complete and submit the form.

This qualification is delivered on behalf of Competenz who will issue the certificate. Trainees must be eligible for Competenz funding to enrol in this programme of study.

Learners are required to achieve the THREE compulsory unit standards (listed below) for a total of 50 credits, and a further 10 credits from the elective unit standards (also listed below) in order to complete this qualification.

COMPULSORY UNIT STANDARDS (50 CREDITS)

 ELECTIVE CREDITS (10 CREDITS REQUIRED)

Learners requiring assistance with any elective units may contact the Vertical Horizonz New Zealand administration team who will assist them in meeting this requirement. Options may include e-learning, distance learning or in-person training.

Note: The cost of any elective unit training is included in your course fees.

Note: Recognition of prior learning in the form of NZQA unit standards may be applied towards this qualification (conditions apply).