WA Public Sector annual reporting requires 80% of managers to complete WHS and injury management training every three years. So “yes” it’s mandatory, but training managers in their WHS responsibilities every three years is also a huge opportunity to engage your people and improve your organisation. To make your Manager training a “value-add” investment, here’s the vital ingredients that we’ve learnt through Auditing and delivering this kind of training, must be a part of WHS training for managers in the Public Sector.
- Don’t – Send public sector managers to general WHS training for managers. In WA that almost always means a focus on construction and mining. Pretty tedious stuff if your managing people that work in community services. You’ll make WHS enemies rather than allies
- Do – Keep the training to half a day or less. More than that and the rates of participant satisfaction plummet. If you have more important WHS messaging than can fit in the time, deliver it using another avenue e.g. broadcasts, ad-hoc briefings etc.
- Do – Ensure the training content aligns with the WorkSafe Plan Assessment or another recognised standard. There are some specific matters that the WorkSafe Plan recommends or requires managers to know – Read more. Doing this gives quality assurance, and also means your Agency will be well placed when Audit time arrives.
- Do – Ensure the risk management component of the training provides organisation specific information on the key risks, and the things Managers need to do to help manage those key risks.
- Do – Ensure the training includes plenty of opportunity for managers to discuss and share views on health and safety issues specific to your organisation. This almost always rates as the thing managers “most like” about WHS training.
WA Public Sector Reporting requires 80% of Managers to complete WHS training every three years. For more information on Franklyn Work Safety WHS training for Public Sector managers – click here
