A new initiative from WorkSafe WA is providing young workers in Western Australia with improved OHS education online.
Commerce Minister Michael Mischin has announced the release of an updated version of WorkSafe’s SmartMove, a workplace health and safety resource targeted at the most inexperienced and vulnerable workers.
Senior high school students and those entering the workforce for experience, placements or apprenticeships can make use of the free resource to get a heads-up on the best health and safety practices.
“The more education we can give our young people on workplace safety and health the better, especially when they’re going into real workplaces for the first time,” WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said in an October 25 media release.
Mr McCulloch also emphasised the need to educate new workers on proper health and safety measures as early as possible.
SmartMove provides a flexible package for both intending workers and those in charge of supervising them. Teachers are provided with instructions on educating their students, and modules can be completed as a class or individually.
Students who successfully complete the course receive a certificate, which they can show prospective employers “as proof that they have a good grounding in workplace safety and health”.
It appears that education providers and employers alike are taking SmartMove seriously and using it as a yardstick to measure one’s suitability for work.
Mr McCulloch explained that schools using the system will not allow students to start working until they have completed the program, and certain retail businesses will require students to hold a certificate before working in their stores.
WorkSafe has ensured that no student will be denied the opportunity to participate in the program, with features such as text-to-speech allowing access to students with special needs, for example.
The continued development and promotion of SmartMove is an example of the importance of properly educating workers on workplace health and safety. All employees can take advantage of OHS training courses to stay safe at work, regardless of their age or experience.
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