Health and Safety Representatives Training Course – 5 Day

Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Training – 5 Day Course

HSRs provide an important link between workers and the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU). This course focuses on the practical knowledge and skills HSRs need to represent members of their work group and exercise their functions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

After completing all course topics, participants receive a SafeWork NSW HSR training certificate of attendance. A fully trained HSR can access the additional powers available under the WHS Act, including issuing a provisional improvement notice (PIN) and directing unsafe work to cease, subject to the requirements of the legislation.

Course Outcome

Participants who complete all five days and all required course activities will receive a certificate of attendance for the SafeWork NSW-approved HSR initial training course.

Prerequisites

• You must be an elected HSR or deputy HSR for a work group in NSW.
• You must provide original evidence of identity before training starts. The combination of documents must show your full name, photograph and signature.
• If joining after Day 1, you must provide evidence that you completed each preceding day in sequence and commenced the course less than six months ago.

 
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What You’ll Learn

By the end of the course, you will have explored how to:

• Explain the NSW work health and safety legislative framework, key terminology and the duties of different workplace parties.
• Understand the role, powers, functions, entitlements and protections of HSRs and deputy HSRs.
• Represent members of your work group and participate effectively in workplace consultation.
• Build constructive relationships and use communication and negotiation skills to help resolve WHS issues.
• Participate in workplace risk management, including identifying hazards, assessing risks and considering the hierarchy of control.
• Raise concerns and complaints and understand when assistance may be sought from SafeWork NSW or a WHS inspector.
• Understand incident notification and the HSR’s role in incident investigation.
• Understand provisional improvement notices (PINs), including consultation requirements and how a trained HSR may issue a PIN.
• Understand the process and legislative requirements for directing unsafe work to cease.
• Access information, support and resources relevant to the HSR role.

Who Is This Course For

This course is designed for:

• Newly elected HSRs in NSW who have requested initial HSR training.
• Elected deputy HSRs in NSW.
• HSRs who have started the approved five-day course and need to complete the remaining days within six months, provided the required evidence of prior topic completion is supplied.

This course develops capability for the HSR role. It is not intended to train participants as WHS professionals or transfer the PCBU’s work health and safety duties to the HSR.
 
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How the Training Works

Training Delivery

• Five days of facilitated training delivered in NSW by a trainer nominated by Maxwell Training.
• Interactive, adult-learning approach using presentations, discussions, workplace examples, case studies and practical exercises.
• The course days must be completed in sequence. Where the course is not delivered as one block, all five days must be completed within six months.

Day 1 - Introduction to Health and Safety Representation

• Overview of the WHS legislation, framework and key terminology
• Duties of workplace parties
• The role of SafeWork NSW

Day 2 - Establishing Representation in the Workplace

• Workplace consultation
• The role of HSRs and health and safety committees
• HSR powers, functions, entitlements and protections

Day 3 - Effective Consultation and Risk Management

• Communication, negotiation and conflict resolution
• Using consultation and issue-resolution processes to address WHS concerns

Day 4 - Workplace Inspections

• Practical exercises applying learning
• Incident notification
• The HSR’s role in incident investigation

Day 5 - Issuing a Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) & Directing the Cessation of Work

• Provisional improvement notices (PINs)
• Consultation before issuing a PIN
• Directing unsafe work to cease

 
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Entry Requirements

To participate in the course, you must meet the following requirements:

General Requirements

• Be an elected HSR or deputy HSR for a NSW work group.
• Provide acceptable original evidence of identity before the course begins - Evidence must show your full name, photograph and signature and meet SafeWork NSW requirements
• Attend each course day in sequence and complete all five days within six months

Language, Literacy, Numeracy & Digital (LLND)

• Read and discuss sections of WHS legislation, guidance material and workplace documents
• Participate in group discussions, negotiation activities and workplace scenarios.
• Communicate workplace health and safety concerns and proposed actions.
• Complete practical course activities and basic written templates, including a provisional improvement notice exercise
• Follow verbal and written instructions from the trainer
• Use a digital device (tablet, smartphone, or laptop) for assessments

Got Any Questions?

If you’d like to know more about this course, entry requirements, or booking options — or if you feel that you may need support in class — our team is here to help!

Call us on 1300 MAXWEL or email [email protected] and we’ll make sure you have all the information you need.