6The Qualified Safety Representative (QSR)™ designation has changed to

The Qualified Health & Safety Officer (QHSO)™ designation.

The Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships believes that education is the key to improving the health and safety at work sites in Alberta. The Qualified Safety Representative (QSR)™ designation was developed in 2007 by Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships to provide OHS professionals, or persons wanting to be leaders in OHS, with a career development path.

AASP has continued to develop modules that will provide individuals with a solid understanding of health and safety in the workplace and hopefully encourage participants to continue with more comprehensive health and safety and industry related training available on our web site.Individuals who achieve a Qualified Health and Safety Officer (QHSO)™ designation will have completed the ten compulsory modules, two elective modules and will have written an overall comprehensive exam and passed with a minimum of 70%.

In doing so, individuals will have a complete understanding of safety responsibilities, expectations, and will be capable in assisting their employer in the management of an effective safety system. Individuals acquiring this level of training have a deeper knowledge base of safety systems which can add significant value to the effective management of their employers Health & Safety program and makes them more marketable.

To achieve a Qualified Health and Safety Officer (QHSO)™ designation the participant must complete 95 hours of training in the ten compulsory modules. The hours per module breakdown as follows:

Mandatory Modules:
Module 1: Guide to Develop an OH&S Management System (16 hours)
Module 2: Alberta OHS Legislation Essentials (4 hours)
Module 3: Joint Work Site HS Committee / HS Representative Training (7 hours)
Module 4: Workplace Inspections (4 hours)
Module 5: Hazard Assessment and Methods of Control (4 hours)
Module 6: Accident / Incident Investigation (8 hours)
Module 7: Ability Management (8 hours)
Module 8: Understanding Workplace Violence and Harassment (8 hours)
Module 13: Fatigue Management (4 hours)
Module 12: Health and Safety Auditor Training & Certification (32 hours)
Includes the following required resources:
+ Auditor Interpretation Guide
+ Mandatory: AuditSoft Application Overview

Elective Modules (two must be chosen):
Module 9: Leadership Roles and Responsibilities for OHSMS(6 hours)
Module 10: Contractor Management (8 hours)
Module 11: Being a Leader – Roles of an Effective Supervisor (8 hours)

When the participant has met all the QHSO classroom requirements there is an overall comprehensive three-hour closed book exam to be written. To pass the overall exam and be awarded the designation of QHS0 the participant must achieve a minimum of 70%. There is no charge to write the QHSO exam, if a rewrite exam is requried there is a $50.00 fee charged.

Study guides are provided. Each successful candidate will receive a wall and wallet certificate with a certificate number and a course transcript stating the completed modules, total hours of training, date of the final exam, percentage achieved, and certificate number.

A person holding a valid QHSO will receive 21 hours credit towards the 35 hours of the enrichment courses for the OHS Certificate course at the University of Alberta. Participants can also receive credits towards the maintenance of CRSP and additional University OHS certificate programs.

In partnership with  SafetyVantage, the QHSO is also offered in an online learning format. For courses currently available online please view the Qualified Health and Safety Officer Online Catalogue.

More on the Canadian Alberta Job Grant (CAJG)

Important Governmental Administrative requirements – you can read more here

• Training must start within six months of the approval date; and
• Training must be completed within 52-weeks from the start date of the first training module
• Training can start once the application is received by the CAJG.
• The Training Completion form must be submitted within 30 days following the last day of the course
• Payment for the program is in Full upfront prior to commencement of training
• Employers may pay for training at any time. However, the training cannot start until all trainees have signed the application and the application is received by the CAJG.
• Application to the CAJG does not guarantee approval. If in the unlikely event the application is not approved the Client is responsible for the full amount.
• Employers may choose to receive two payment instalments by contacting the Canada-Alberta Job Grant team.