With the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) now in effect, employers are taking a much needed interest in workplace health and safety and what the requirements are. For high school students nearing the end of their high school years, thinking about what would be advantageous on their CV when the job hunt starts is paramount. It is for these reasons Vertical Horizonz New Zealand (VHNZ) offer Health and Safety unit standards to students in years 12 and 13 through the Gateway programme.
The key to this training is to have student engagement and make the learning an enjoyable experience and relevant to why it is important. The Gateway programme is structured so students also work on placement a day a week, out in community businesses, so they get a real life taste of Health and Safety procedures in the workforce. The Vertical Horizonz training complements the students studies to make them more equip in the real world.
During Health and Safety training Students will learn about the requirements of Health and Safety in the workplace in a way that builds trust, confidence and promotes teamwork among colleagues.
The theory and practical lessons covering the following:Read-more
- Responsibilities of employers and employees under the HSW Act are identified
- Describe the systems approach to workplace health and safety
- Hazard management controls are explained
- Explain how hazards are defined in the HSW and proposed HSW Act
- Describe hazards that may harm workers, the work environment, and organisations
- Explain health and safety requirements for hazard control
- Describe hazard control methods
- Apply risk assessment procedures
- Identify the principles of workplace safety in a workplace
- Identifying safe and unsafe work practices
- Describe good workplace health and safety practices
By combining part time work, studies and training with a Health and Safety focus, students gain a thorough understanding of H&S in the workplace and can highlight this knowledge when speaking to potential employers. There is credibility and practicality aligned to a student who can say "I understand and practice Health and Safety policies and this is something I will bring to the workforce."