WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING GETS A BOOST

SIAST and the provincial government today announced two new measures designed to improve workplace health and safety: a new applied certificate program and a bursary fund to help students take the program.

The new Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner program will be offered for the first time in November at SIAST's Kelsey Campus in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Labour is making a one-time, $30,000 contribution to establish a fund – the Saskatchewan Labour OH&S Practitioner Award Fund – to help workers pay the costs of the new program.

"Post-secondary training such as SIAST's OH&S Practitioner Program helps to make workplaces healthier and safer both today and tomorrow," Labour Minister Deb Higgins said. "The Saskatchewan Labour OH&S Practitioner Award Fund is an illustration of our commitment to reducing workplace illnesses and injury."

The nine-week applied certificate program was developed through a partnership involving industry stakeholders, SIAST, Saskatchewan Labour and Saskatchewan Learning. It provides an opportunity for Saskatchewan's OH&S managers and worker representatives to learn the essentials of occupational health and safety principles and practices.

"Our new Occupational Health and Safety Practitioner Applied Certificate program was created in response to a demonstrated need in the province," SIAST's president and CEO Dr. Bob McCulloch said. "We worked closely with stakeholders to ensure the program provides the skills and knowledge required to improve workplace health and safety."

Workers who complete the occupational health committee and supervisor training courses provided by Saskatchewan Labour's Occupational Health and Safety Division will receive credit for the first course of the SIAST program.

SIAST plans to develop the program for distance and part-time delivery throughout the province. Workers with previous OH&S related training or experience will be able to apply for up to 75 per cent credit toward the certificate through SIAST's Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process.

Applications for financial assistance through the Saskatchewan Labour OH&S Practitioner Award Fund must have a minimum of five years of work experience, be Saskatchewan residents and have demonstrated involvement in and commitment to strengthening the field of OH&S practice. Priority will be given to applicants who do not have other means of financial support.

SIAST is Saskatchewan's primary public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training, recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise and innovation. More than 12,000 students are registered in SIAST programs, which touch every sector of the economy; additionally, the organization draws almost 29,000 individual course registrations. It operates campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and provides a number of courses and programs through distance education.

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For More Information, Contact:

Patricia Gillies SIAST Saskatoon Phone: (306)933-5376

Allan Walker Labour Regina Phone: (306)787-4481