Frequently Asked Questions

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Q1. We've got several employees who have already progressed through to Bronze Card level. Are they required to retrain for the new Unit Standards listed as being required for Bronze?

A. No, existing Bronze Card holders do not need to re-train, but they are required to attend one of the new bi-annual Health & Safety Update courses from one of the Operate Safe training providers. This will ensure their H&S training is brought up to date.

Q2. How long before I get the card(s) issued once payment is made?

A. The time frame for card issue once payment is complete is 15 working days, but this depends on whether all the underlying requirements have been satisfied.

Q3. When does the card expire?

A. The Red card will expire 2 years from when the underlying Site Safe course was completed, except for Tertiary accredited organizations where the card doesn't expire as Tertiary accredited organizations have ongoing awareness training. However, Tertiary Accredited organizations will need to inform InfraTrain that their Tertiary status is current. Bronze level and higher cards have no expiry date.

Q4. Do I have to get a new Red card when a renewable programme expires?

A. For non Tertiary accredited organizations yes, however companies must manage their own training for renewable components and it is up to the company to keep them current and then make application to InfraTrain for a re-issue. For Tertiary accredited organizations no, but they have to inform InfraTrain that their Tertiary accreditation status is current.

Q5. What is InfraTrain?

A. InfraTrain is a Government recognised industry training organisation responsible for setting industry training standards in accordance with the industries it represents. It has been contracted by Operate Safe to set industry training standards; issue and maintain cards, collect card revenue, and perform administration duties for self governance.

Q6. What is Operate Safe?

A. Operate Safe is a body set up by Roading New Zealand to administer self governance.

Q7. How will I know when an underlying programme is about to expire?

A. The company must manage this process and keep up-to-date records of when people attend and complete programmes.

Q8. What cards are applicable to what employees?

A. The cards have a generic target employee group. The competencies outlined in each card programme have been designed by Operate safe to cater for typical job roles within industry. However, the exact job roles and responsibilities of employees have a bearing on the appropriate training programme that should be conducted. Thus employers arrange training for their employees to the level of risk, and the work an employee does to meet the H, S and E legislation. Roading New Zealand has put out some guidelines on this.

Q9. What is self Governance?

A. Self governance is a Roading New Zealand initiative to increase awareness of health, safety and environmental issues, enhance the safety record within industry and to increase standards within industry.

Q10. Can employees go straight into any card level?

A. People will not be able to sign into a higher level card programme unless they have completed the Induction and sub card programmes.

Q11. How long do the programmes take to complete?

A. This depends on the amount of training being performed, whether the unit standard training can be provided by providers, work demands, and the ability of the person to become competent. The programme time for the induction card is not too long. The company and site specific induction training would take about 1-2 days to complete, and the Operate Safe accredited induction awareness course is about 1 day. The full induction programme, under current policy, should be completed within 3 months. The Limited Credit Programmes take about 6 months and the National Certificate Programmes takes about 1 year to complete.

Q12. How do the Operate Safe Health, Safety and Environmental programmes fit with other qualifications within InfraTrain's coverage?

A. The Self Governance central core health, safety and environment programmes are designed to be stand alone programmes and be applicable across many industries. Technical national certificates will have some cross crediting arrangements for people who undertake bronze card or higher programmes.

Q13. What happens when an employee changes company?

A. When an employee changes companies the card will have to be renewed when the employee starts work for the new company. This is because the induction being performed by the new company will be different to that undertaken by the previous company. The time frame between jobs may also be a substantial period.

Q14. Do I have to notify InfraTrain that an employee has left the company?

A. It is not a requirement but is a good idea to keep company records up to date. Periodically, InfraTrain will send information out to companies on all employees held within the self goverance database. Companies can review this information and notify InfraTrain of corrections.

Q15. What do I do when an employee loses their card?

A. The employee should notify the employer as soon as possible. The employer should then contact InfraTrain and request a re-issue of the card. There will be a cost for re-issue of $12.50 for each card.

Q16. What happens about part time or temporary employees?

A. Part time employee who will be with the company for longer than 3 months should go through the full induction Red card programme. Temporary employees who work for 2 months or less should go through the company and site specific induction programmes, and be closely supervised.

Q17. What about consultants going onto jobs -- do they have to have self regulation cards?

A. Consultants going onto work sites should have the induction Red card level. If not, they should be continuously supervised by a competent person while they are on the worksite.

Q18. hich companies or organizations do the training?

A. Presently InfraTrain, NZIHT and Tai Poutini polytechnics are gearing up to deliver the Bronze and Silver programmes. NZIHT and Tai Poutini polytechnics have a combination of delivery methods and you should contact them regarding the training offered. InfraTrain is also developing on-job learning notes and assessment tools for most unit standards involved in the programme, but for some unit standards the training will need to be undertaken through a provider i.e. first aid.