Safety is everyone's responsibility

As an apprentice you will be required to take safety issues seriously. This will involve the strict observance and compliance of any of your host workplace's occupational health and safety (OHS) rules.

Being employed by AiGTS gives you the opportunity to learn all aspects of OHS as we will provide information, instruction and training as necessary to enable you to perform your work safely and without risk to your health.

As an AiGTS apprentice you will be assigned an AiGTS Field Officer who will visit you regularly at your host workplace to ensure that you are working in a safe environment, and have adequate on the job training and supervision. The Field Officer will also check that the host company is meeting its requirements according to your Training Plan and monitor how compatible you are with the host's working environment.

Your Field Officer will listen to any concerns you have about your apprenticeship.

Employment induction
Before starting work as an AiGTS apprentice you will need to participate in an employment induction. In this induction we provide you with the specific workplace safety information and procedures necessary to commence employment.

Topics that are discussed in this induction, include:

• An overview of AiGTS
• Roles of key organisations such as the AAC, RTO and STA
• Your obligations as an apprentice
• Apprentice documentation such as the Training Contract and Training Plan
• Wages and leave entitlements
• Government initiatives such as Trade Learning Scholarships, Tools for Your Trade, Living Away from Home and Youth Allowance
• Completing timesheets and being paid
• Reporting accidents and WorkCover
• Work and Training Diary
• Counselling and discipline
• Superannuation
• Specific safety related topics such as Issue Resolution, Lifting and Carrying, Ergonomics in the Office, Eye Safety, Hearing Conversation, Machinery Safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Additional training
Throughout the period of the apprenticeship you will be required to participate in specialised training should there be a need for you to undertake special tasks, such as entry to confined spaces or working at height. Remedial training will occur on an as needed basis and be focused on specific workplace hazards.

Annual training will be scheduled as you advance to the next level of your apprenticeship. This training is in addition to the off the job training at TAFE and forms part of industry expectations that you will be a safety conscious tradesperson capable of identifying and controlling industry specific risks.