Safety is everyone's responsibility

Our apprentices will be educated by us to take safety issues seriously. We will provide them with the necessary information, instruction and training to help them perform their work safely in your workplace without risk to their health.

Each of our apprentices will be assigned an AiGTS Field Officer to visit your workplace regularly to ensure that Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) rules are being observed, that there is adequate supervision and on the job training. The Field Officers will listen to any concerns the apprentices have and monitor how compatible they are with your workplace. The Field Officers will also help you to implement the apprentices' Training Plan.

Employment induction
Before starting work our apprentices will participate in our employment induction in which we give them the specific workplace safety information and procedures they need before starting work.

Topics included in the induction:

• An overview of Australian Industry Group Training Services (AiGTS)
• Roles of key organisations such as the AAC, RTO and STA
• Obligations of 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
Specialist training will be provided if the apprentice needs to undertake special tasks, such as entry to confined spaces or working at height during their apprenticeship. Remedial training will occur on an as needed basis and be focused on the specific workplace hazards.

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

Occupational Health and Safety policy
AiGTS is committed to achieving the highest performance in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) with the aim of creating and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment throughout its businesses.

Our priority is to ensure that every employee, including trainees and apprentices, is provided with a safe and healthy working environment. We will make every effort in the areas of OHS education, accident/incident/injury prevention, hazard control, rehabilitation, health preservation and promotion, to ensure the occupational health and safety of the workplace and our clients.

Consistent with this the Company will:

• Seek continuous improvement in its OHS performance taking into account evolving community expectations, management practices, scientific knowledge and technology
• Comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards and where adequate laws do not exist, adopt and apply standards that reflect the Company's commitment to health and safety
• Involve employees and host employers in the improvement of occupational health and safety performance
• Train and hold individual employees accountable for occupational health and safety activities
• Manage risk by implementing management systems to identify, assess, monitor and control hazards and by reviewing performance
• Communicate openly with employees, government and the community on occupational health and safety issues and contribute to the development of relevant occupational health and safety policy, legislation and regulations
• To audit and continually improve occupational health and safety standards and procedures
• To provide rehabilitation for all employees including trainees and apprentices.

The responsibility for the implementation of this policy rests with the Director of AiGTS.