More on offer from Afroteq

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of occupational health and safety (OHS) officers in the workplace, according to Natasja Ware, Afroteq Academy manager. It’s no wonder that this expert built environment training provider has announced an exciting line-up of new extended health and safety training courses for the coming year.

“The appointment of OHS representatives is a legal requirement,” Ware explains. “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 of the most important and necessary elements.”

Established in 2002, Afroteq Academy was one of the first facilities management (FM) training providers to be endorsed by the South African Facilities Management Association, as well as achieve accreditation for two of its short training programmes from the Services Sector Education and Training Authority.

Today, Afroteq Academy offers a wide range of accredited FM qualifications and training programmes aligned to the Facilities Management ISO 41001:2018 standard. All courses are presented online and facilitated in person by active practitioners and subject matter experts who are enthusiastic about skills development and bridging the FM industry’s skills gap. The following OHS training courses are available:

OHS application: Upon completion of this three-day, National Qualifications Framework 4 (NQF 4) course, delegates will be able to explain the basic principles of the OHS 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.

OHS legislation: The two-day NQF 4 course on OHS legislation 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.

Hazard identification and risk assessment: This two-day NQF 3 training course 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: After completing a one-day NQF 3 course on OHS incident investigation, delegates will be able to explain the specified requirements for conducting workplace incident investigations, prepare and gather data for the inspection, and perform post-investigation functions.

OHS representative: This one-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, as well as addressing safety, health, and environment-related issues within the scope of an OHS representative’s authority.

Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA): A one-day NQF 2 training programme that unpacks the benefits of the COIDA to employers and employees alike, describing the procedures to claim compensation and how to complete the necessary documentation.

Handyman training – hand and power tool safety: “We are introducing a new one-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,” says Ware.

“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.”