Due Diligence

Cost effective retail e-learning induction training

By Graeme Lees - Managing Director atmp - training & skill development

Due diligence requires everyone in a workplace (employers, business owners and supervisors in particular) to understand and comply with the duties and obligations set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated legislation.

At its simplest, due diligence means take care. It means taking every precaution reasonable under the circumstances to protect the health, safety and welfare of all your workers and the environment.

Being able to provide evidence of due diligence is one of the defences available to a business owner or employer who might be charged with an offence under Section 26 (1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The number of individuals being charged with OHS offences is increasing - a surf through the various State work safe web sites shows this trend.

The first step for any business owner or employer is to identify risks to safety, health and welfare in their workplace. Once risks are identified, due diligence requires that you address these risks through a properly functioning and documented health and safety system.

To demonstrate your due diligence you need to:

  • Carry out all duties under the Act and ensure that your business complies with the Act and associated legislations.
  • Set up a well-documented system for identifying, reporting and responding to actual and potential hazards in your workplace.
  • Establish and implement safe procedures and controls for these hazards and for all job tasks.
  • Provide instruction and training on an on-going basis to all employees.
  • Communicate regularly with employees about health and safety hazards.
  • Monitor and self-audit your workplace safety program.

Providing comprehensive and effective health and safety training to all staff in your workplace is a key component of any due diligence program.

Managers and supervisors need training in order to understand and effectively carry out their obligations under OH&S. Employees need training too; they must understand their responsibility to work safely and report hazards. Also they must be made aware of every potential hazard and trained in how to perform every aspect of their work safely and efficiently.

To prove due diligence, employers must be able to demonstrate that not only was sufficient health and safety instruction and training provided, but that the recipients understood the training and successfully applied it to their jobs.

Proving your due diligence means having a documented accredited training structure - providing not only the training but assessing and recording the employees resulting competency. Competency based training will provide this.

Remember, business owners and employers in C-Store retailing also need to demonstrate their due diligence in a number of other legislative areas - such as Food Safety and Tobacco Retailing.

atmp training & skill development are a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Their people have over 60 years combined experience in the service station and C-Store business in Australia. They have been developing and delivering Compliance Training Modules for the past 12 years. Graeme Lees, Jennifer Gregory and Amanda Humphrey have a passion for the C-Store and Service Station business and believe strongly that competency based training and assessment are essential today to show Due Diligence.

One of the most difficult things that a small independent retailer faces is the ability to access cost effective and appropriate training for new staff induction which includes a competency assessment component and record keeping.

atmp training & skill development have released a new e-learning competency based Induction training program. It is available as from January 14th 08 to UCB members. atmp released the details of the program to members at the recent UCB conference on the Gold Coast. Members were able to test drive how the e-learning program works.

The e-learning induction program comes in two modules:

  • Module 1 - Workplace Safety, Food Safety & Retail trading Laws
  • Module 2 - Customer Service , Making Sales & Merchandising

The special introductory offer to UCB members was $165 per person for Module 1 and $120 per person for Module 2 for members who register before January 14th. You can register by visiting the atmp web site www.atmp.com.au or contacting atmp direct.

The time frames to complete the e-learning modules are flexible and are controlled by the store owner or supervisors.

How does atmp e-learning induction work?

The supervisor/employer enrols the staff member via the web site or by email. After payment is processed, the employee is issued a log on password.

The staff member logs on and commences the on-line learning activities.

The supervisor/employer can monitor their progress on line.

There is a combination of automatic results and assessment by atmp assessors.

Feedback is provided to the staff member and employer by email and there is printable competency evidence available that can be kept in the staff members files - thus fulfilling your evidence of Due Diligence for the future.

atmp issues a Certificate of Competency when the module is successfully completed and provides documentation to the employer.

How can e-learning induction help your small business?

It will assist with your obligations to comply with Workplace Safety, Food Safety & Retail Trading Laws as well as providing the opportunity for new staff to learn and practice good standards of service, sales and merchandising.
 

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