Role of a training provider

Role of a training provider – What is the role of a training provider?The need for education and training of employees is described in the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act. Numerous training institutions have jumped on the opportunity to develop a curriculum. But is the provision of information enough to be called a training provider, let alone be called a high-quality training provider?

The South African educational landscape is dotted with organisations that claim to provide training for (aspiring) employees in the occupational health and safety field. Although there are certainly good-quality institutions out there, we often request help for learners who feel they have been let down by other educational institutions and, subsequently, no longer have the means or time to finish their courses.

At MAKROSAFE, the quality of our educational programme is measured along several lines, which includes:

1. Providing training that is required by the law

The South African law requires health and safety officers to be trained according to the standards stipulated by the Act. MAKROSAFE has made it their role to provide training that ensures that trainees are armed with the knowledge and requirements of the law.

2. Provide training that is compliant and accredited by HWSETA

The quality of education is monitored and controlled by the Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA). MAKROSAFE is accredited by HWSETA to provide training and reviews its lecturing material annually to maintain the high-standard education HWSETA expects. All training programs are in full compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, standards and bylaws.

3. Provision of registered assessors

Good quality education can only be provided by lecturers who have extensive experience in the field they lecture. We take it that our role as a training institution is to ensure that we source the best lecturers possible, who are registered with the professional bodies and who continue to excel in their profession or field of interest.

4. Training which combines theoretical and practical education

Theory alone is not enough to teach and show all details to ensure that one becomes a successful health and safety officer. Education of the highest standard has to be a balance of theoretically knowledge which is advanced by combining it with practical skills. This ensures that all learners, regardless whether they prefer studying books or experience information, will be able to absorb the information.

5. Creating an interaction platform

Teaching learners can never be one-way traffic. Students should be encouraged to engage in discussions and debate with both lecturers and fellow-learners especially when classes are made up by people employed in the health and safety field already. Each experience or observance, regardless of how insignificant they might seem, could inspire fellow-learners or trigger them to consider different views or see things from a different perspective.

6. Accommodate all

No training institution should be allowed to ever turn down a request for education based on the idea that the aspiring learner is not educated enough. Especially with the health and safety industry being in dire need for trained professionals, educational institutions should provide training for all, regardless of their location, educational background or financial means. Having recognised the significance of this, MAKROSAFE established the Waltfin Trust. This trust is willing to pay up to 80% of the tuition fee for learners with little or no financial means.

7. Re-certification training

The conditions and technology used in the workplace changes regularly which force certain employees to be re-certified annually or bi-annually. Training institutions are only able to assist you when they continuously update their materials and curriculum and stay in touch with the developments in the field.

8. Equipping trainees with life skills

Health and safety revolves around improving or saving lives. While learners can be turned into professionals by feeding them knowledge and information, the health and safety field also demands that professionals are equipped with certain life-skills. This can only be improved by encouraging, exposing or confronting learners with habits.

9. Issue certification that is valid and is recognised by HWSETA

Only learners that receive a certificate that is recognised by national or industrial bodies that monitor the quality of the education can claim that they have attended the best training possible. Training institutions can never claim to be at the forefront of education if they don't continuously engage with governmental and industrial bodies to receive praise and recognition for the certificate they issue.

1. Awarding the best!

Training institutions should always monitor the development of their learners, be it in the classroom or away from the institution. Progress that learners make is the best indication of the quality of training they were provided with. Former students should still be recognised over and above the certificate they received. Nothing stops training providers from introducing awards or recognition to stimulate those doing well, to continue performing above par.

Health and safety professionals have a 'duty to care'. How can they be expected to do so when those at grassroots level, the lecturers and training institutions, fail to do so too?