Information, Training and Supervision of Employees

Using the Department of Labour (OSH) Health and Safety Management Systems Audit Logs - March 1999 used to measure an organisations compliance levels under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 - Sections 12 and 13.

Background to OSH's Audit Format:

The OSH audit is structured so that each question is made up of the following parts:

Question: The specific part of the company's health and safety management system.

Key Criteria: This is the minimum standard that must be satisfied whatever the company being audited.

Intent: This outlines the philosophy behind the question being asked and where it this type of activity fits into the overall programme.

Verification: This is the process that the person completing the audit must work through to establish that the standard is in place, being followed by the company and effective.

Best Practice: This details the practices that the company should have in place if they are aiming for excellence in health and safety management.

Questions used in regard to Training, Information and Supervision

Are all employees adequately trained in the safe use of all plant, equipment, substances and protective clothing they may use or handle?

Key Criteria (Minimum Standards)

	Specific training is provided covering plant, equipment and protective equipment.
	Training content and language is able to be understood.
	Training records maintained.

Compliant and verification requirements:

Are employees being provided with information on hazards to which they are exposed, or which they may create?

Key Criteria (Minimum standards)

	Hazard identification information is given to staff in a way they understand.
	Staff understand the specific hazards and specific precautions needed to protect themselves and others.
	Staff know what to do in an emergency.
	Staff know where all the necessary safety equipment is located.

Compliant and verification requirements:

Do employees have the necessary knowledge, experience and training to perform the job/task?

Key Criteria (Minimum standard)

	That employees have the knowledge and experience levels required to perform the work safely.
	Employer has analysed tasks to ascertain the necessary knowledge, experience and training.
	Employees have the necessary specific licenses, trade qualifications or professional qualifications.

Compliant and verification requirements:

Are all employees who do not have the knowledge, experience and training required to perform a job or task adequately supervised by someone who does?

Key Criteria (Minimum standard)

Employees who do not have the appropriate knowledge and experience to undertake a task in a safe manner, are being supervised by knowledgeable and skilled employees / supervisors / managers.

Compliant and verification requirements:

Definitions - Training

Intent:

Employees have received training to enable them to safely use plant, equipment and protective equipment.

Verification:

	Check training records.
	Question a representative sample of employees to check training received and their understanding.

Best Practice:

	Training is formally planned and follows the process of induction, training and regular follow-up to ensure work is performed correctly.
	Training is conducted using information from a job task procedure.
	Ongoing refresher training is done.
	Training provided by person with appropriate knowledge and skills.

Definitions - Information

Intent:

Employees must be informed about the hazards they are exposed to during work and about specific precautions to be taken to prevent harm.

Verification:

Check that specific information about hazards derived from the Hazard Identification, emergency procedures and location of protective equipment have been given to staff, by questioning a representative sample.

Best Practice:

	Educational programmes are planned in advance to address specific hazards including sessions by occupational health practitioners. These should be conducted on a regular basis and include sessions run by a person, use of videos, toolbox talks, specific team briefs.
	Specific individual health and safety information needs have been identified.

Definitions - Competency 

Intent:

Individual employees must have appropriate levels of knowledge, experience and training to carry out work so that they will not harm themselves or others. An organisation needs to have information on present levels of knowledge, experience and training.

Verification:

	Question a representative sample of managers about the knowledge, experience and training required to perform specific tasks;
	Query how the employer has confirmed the knowledge, experience and training levels of employees (ie. a trade background does not necessarily ensure the job is performed safely).
	Question a representative sample of employees to establish that their knowledge, experience and training meets the needs of the above tasks.
	Check that specific licenses and qualifications held by employees.

Best Practice:

	A job/task analysis is completed to identify the skills required to perform individual tasks in a health and safe manner.
	Knowledge, experience, training and competence confirmed.

Definitions - Supervision

Intent:

The degree of supervision required for an individual is dependent on the level of knowledge and experience they bring to a task. Where employees do not have appropriate levels of knowledge and experience to undertake a task in a safe manner, they are required to be supervised.

Verification:

Question a representative sample of employees, including new entrants, to ascertain that the level of supervision they are receiving while undertaking a task is appropriate to their level of knowledge or experience.

Best Practice:

Clear decisions made as to the degree of supervision required for individual employees, based on their knowledge and experience.