Training and Certification Standard

Transcription

1 Training and Certification Standard For Occupational First Aid Training Agencies Certification Services Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

2 Training and Certification Standard Contents Introduction Page 3 Definitions Page 5 1. Agency Registration Agreements Page 8 2. Certifying OFA and Equivalent Attendants Page Maintenance and Management of Records Page Training Facility Requirements Page Occupational First Aid Instructors Page Occupational First Aid Examiners Page Inspections and Audits Page 38 Appendix A OFA Candidate Identification Requirements Page 39 Appendix B Classroom Equipment and Supplies Page 41 Appendix C Conducting the Practical Examination Page 50 Appendix D Program Equivalency Process Page 53 Appendix E Examination Analysis Page 54 Appendix F Accommodation Guidelines Page 59 Page 2 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

3 Training and Certification Standard For Occupational First Aid Training Agencies Introduction The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ( OHSR ) requires that a first aid attendant successfully complete the appropriate training course and/or examination developed or approved by the Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia ( Board or WorkSafeBC ), and has been issued a certificate at the required level by the Board or a person or organization recognized by the Board. The purpose of this Training and Certification Standard for Occupational First Aid Training Agencies ( Training and Certification Standard ) is to establish minimum requirements for training agencies that are approved to conduct Occupational First Aid or equivalent training and certification. WorkSafeBC developed Occupational First Aid courses and Endorsements comply with the ANSI Standard ANSI/ASSE Z Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety Health and Environmental Training, as well as the Institute for Credentialing Excellence Standard ICE 1100 : 2010(E) Standard for Assessment Based Certificate Programs. The requirements for persons or organizations in British Columbia to become authorized to teach Occupational First Aid ( OFA ) and/or equivalent programs, conduct the examinations and issue certificates that will be recognized by WorkSafeBC is explained in this Standard. The general requirements for training agencies are that they: 1. Sign and comply with an Agency Registration Agreement ( Agreement, Agency Agreement ), 2. Comply with the Training and Certification Standard as amended periodically, 3. Ensure that acceptable course delivery, evaluation and/or examination occurs, 4. Ensure that instructors are competent and certified, 5. Ensure that examiners are competent and certified, 6. Ensure that appropriate training and certification procedures are followed, 7. Maintain OFA and/or OFA equivalent course training and certification records, 8. Maintain instructor and examiner training and certification records, 9. Submit to audits and inspections, and 10. Ensure that training facilities, supplies and equipment meet the requirements of this Training and Certification Standard and are acceptable to WorkSafeBC. These requirements are discussed in more detail on the pages that follow. Page 3 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

4 Agencies that are inactive (no training delivered) for three years as evidenced by their agency annual training and certification report submission will be removed from the training provider list and their agency status will be suspended. Agencies that do not submit an annual training and certification report will be considered in breach of the Agency Registration Agreement. Agencies that are in breach of the Agency Registration Agreement with WorkSafeBC may be removed from the training provider list without notification and their agency status may be suspended following a 30 day notification. There are two types of courses that may be taught: 1. WorkSafeBC-developed courses and 2. Courses developed by others that have been accepted by WorkSafeBC as equivalent to WorkSafeBC-developed courses. Occupational First Aid course equivalency criteria are determined by WorkSafeBC. The process for determining equivalency is explained in Appendix D. WorkSafeBC is responsible for updating standards, course content and training materials for WorkSafeBC-developed courses. WorkSafeBC intends to review these courses every 5 years or sooner if required, to determine whether the current standards meet the needs of industry. The information will be used for course revision of WorkSafeBCdeveloped materials and will be forwarded to the agencies that have developed equivalent courses in order to facilitate their course revision. Approved equivalent OFA courses and Endorsements will be required to align with the WorkSafeBC-developed OFA course standard. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Guidelines may be accessed on-line at: Page 4 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

5 Definitions Agency means: An organization that has entered into an agreement with WorkSafeBC to conduct Occupational First Aid and/or equivalent courses. Agency Agreement means: A legal and binding contract exchanged between WorkSafeBC and an Agency. Business Days means: Monday to Friday between the hours of 6am and 6pm. Candidate means: An individual who has met the eligibility qualifications for, but has not yet earned a certificate. Certification means: a process by which individuals have demonstrated the level of knowledge and skill realized in the occupation or role. Certified means: An individual who has earned a credential awarded through a certification program. Class size means: the number of OFA and/or equivalent candidates or participants in the training space. Clear working space means: A training space that is free of any tables, chairs, desks, presentation equipment, appliances or other immoveable building obstructions or structures including equipment suspended from the training facility walls or ceilings that may interfere with the sight lines or safety of OFA candidates, instructors and examiners. Competency Assessment means: The specific standards of performance which must be achieved in order to be deemed competent. The assessors utilize these standards to judge whether the candidate has performed to the required standard for the purpose of certification. Curriculum means: a set of courses and their content taught in school, college or university. It is based on a general syllabus specifying the topics that must be learned by a student and to what level so as to attain a certain grade or standard. Employed by means: to hire or engage the services of a person or persons. Equivalent means: Occupational First Aid courses that were developed by others and were deemed equivalent to Occupational First Aid courses developed by WorkSafeBC. Exam Analysis means: an inspection of examination documentation to assist in determining the competency of examiners and instructors as described in Appendices E and F. Page 5 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

6 Exam Analysis Type 1 - Administrative means: An analysis completed by an authorized person within an agency. This analysis should be conducted at the end each examination session to analyze the following: documentation, legibility, deductions explained, sequence steps, and start and finish times. Exam Analysis Type 2 - Comprehensive means: An analysis completed by a qualified person with the agency. This analysis must be conducted as part of OFA 2, OFA 3 and equivalent course instructor & examiner competency assessments. During this analysis, the qualified person should be assessing trends in errors, inconsistencies, and adherence to the Standard Grading Criteria. At the conclusion of the analysis, the qualified person may recommend remedial training for either the examiner or instructor. Examiner Certificate means: An official document attesting to the fact that a person has successfully completed the specific training requirements, and has demonstrated the required competencies in order to conduct examinations of courses developed or approved by WorkSafeBC. First Aid Certificate means: An official document attesting to the fact that a person has successfully completed a course of instruction, examination and/or specific training requirements to provide occupational first aid in workplaces that fall within the jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC. First Aid/Jump Kit means: A portable kit capable of carrying the first aid supplies, listed in Appendix B of this Training and Certification Standard. Instructor Certificate means: An official document attesting to the fact that the person has successfully completed the specific training requirements, and has demonstrated the required competencies in order to instruct courses developed or approved by WorkSafeBC. Instructor Certification Terms and Conditions means: The standards of conduct that instructors have agreed to abide by in order instruct occupational first aid courses developed or approved by WorkSafeBC. OFA means: Occupational First Aid courses developed by WorkSafeBC. Medical Report of Fitness means: The report of an examining physician on a form acceptable to WorkSafeBC, concerning the medical fitness of an occupational first aid attendant. Mentoring Plan means: A detailed instructor and/or examiner training plan that outlines the process and methodology of training and assessing instructor and/or examiner competency, and contains all of the required instructor and/or examiner skills identified within this Standard. Practicable means: That which is reasonably capable of being done. Page 6 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

7 Qualified Person means: A person who has the appropriate knowledge (through education and training) and experience in the training and assessment of instructors and examiners. For the purposes of this standard, the qualified person should be at equal or higher level of certification than the examiner and/or instructor who is receiving an assessment or training. Renewal means: To renew a certificate that has expired for up to two years. Reinstatement means: The restoration of an instructor or examiner certificate that has expired for more than two years. Supervisor means: A person, who instructs, directs and controls workers in the performance of their duties. A supervisor need not have the title Supervisor but will normally be appointed by an agency owner or authorized agency representative. He or she may have some other title or have no title at all. Direct supervision may take place even though a worker may be located in a different place than the supervisor or may travel to different places as part of his or her work. Directions may be given by any communications medium. Statement of Fitness means: A form acceptable to WorkSafeBC, completed by a candidate in an OFA 2, OFA 3 or equivalent course or examination, declaring their physical and psychological fitness. TE means: Transportation Endorsement, a certification program developed by WorkSafeBC designed as an adjunct to OFA Level 1 and OFA Level 2 certification. Page 7 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

8 1. Agency Registration Agreements To register as a first aid training agency ( agency ), a person or organization must submit an application for registration that includes: a) The type of agency status requested (OFA or equivalent). b) The levels of first aid that will be taught (OFA Level 1 and Transportation Endorsement or equivalent or all OFA or equivalent courses). c) A notarized document declaring the registered owner of the company or, in the absence of a registered owner, the chief executive of the corporation or the authorized representative of the organization or society or public or private institution. d) A signed Training Agency Registration Agreement which includes a confidentiality agreement with WorkSafeBC that restricts the use of the examination materials to the intended purpose. e) A copy of an organization chart and the contact information for the agency listing each official and position by title. f) A company health and safety program including written procedures as required by the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and agency policies and procedures that are congruent with the Training and Certification Standard. Following submission and approval of the registration application, the agency must: g) Arrange to have the agency s facility, equipment and supplies inspected by a WorkSafeBC Certification Officer, and h) Sign and date two copies of the Training Agency Registration Agreement and return it to WorkSafeBC. 1.1 Where, in this Training and Certification Standard, there is a duty or obligation on the first aid training agency, WorkSafeBC will hold the agency responsible for those duties. A breach of duties or obligations or a breach of the Agency Agreement may result in termination of the agency registration. 1.2 In order for an agency to purchase WorkSafeBC-developed OFA course materials or conduct courses and/or examinations of WorkSafeBC-developed courses, a signed Agency Agreement must be on file with WorkSafeBC. 1.3 In order for an agency-developed course to be recognized as an OFA equivalent course, the agency-developed course must be reviewed and approved by WorkSafeBC. WorkSafeBC Course Review Page 8 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

9 1.4 In order for any agency to conduct courses and/or examinations of approved agency-developed courses in B.C., a signed Agency Registration Agreement must be on file with WorkSafeBC. 1.5 An agency with an Agency Agreement on file is recognized by WorkSafeBC as an authorized first aid training agency. All authorized first aid training agencies must comply with the conditions in the Agency Agreement, the Training and Certification Standard as amended from time to time, and the standards set by WorkSafeBC. 1.6 Authorized first aid training agencies are responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance with this Training and Certification Standard including quality assurance for all subcontracted agency, examiner and instructor services. 1.7 Agency responsibility for quality assurance includes, but is not limited to, any OFA or equivalent course activities conducted on behalf of the authorized agency by training providers, training centre s, authorized providers, partner providers, training partners, independent contract instructors and/or examiners, program monitors and/or auditors. 1.8 Agencies are responsible for informing WorkSafeBC without undue delay of a change of ownership and/or location and providing periodic updates of agency contact information as required by 1.e). 1.9 Where practicable, WorkSafeBC must be notified a minimum of three (3) business days in advance of all OFA and equivalent courses and one (1) business day of all OFA and equivalent course cancellations. Notifications must be in writing and must include the training dates, times, locations, the name of the instructor and any other relevant details regarding the courses Where an agency has determined that course notification deadlines required by section 1.9 above could not be met, the agency must submit their course notifications as soon as possible and include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances regarding why the deadline could not be met. course notifications to: Certification@WorkSafeBC.com Page 9 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

10 2. Certifying OFA and Equivalent Attendants 2.1 Class Size a) For OFA Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 3 Refresher or equivalent courses and the WorkSafeBC Paramedic in Industry course, the class size must not exceed 18 candidates. b) For Transportation Endorsement or equivalent courses, the class size must not exceed 12 candidates The agency must have a policy that addresses a minimum class size. Some of the competencies require the candidate to demonstrate certain skills that can only be accomplished when there are adequate numbers of candidates in a course. The agency must have procedures that address what the instructor should do in the event that the number of candidates present at the start of a course is inadequate to allow candidates to demonstrate those skills. 2.2 Candidate Age a) Candidates must be at least 16 years old at the time of examination. b) If an underage candidate takes an OFA or equivalent course or examination, any certificate issued must be cancelled and/or recalled by the agency without delay. c) The agency must investigate the circumstances that resulted in the underage candidate being authorized to participate in an OFA or equivalent course or examination. The written investigation report will establish how recurrence will be prevented. d) OFA Level 2, Level 3 or equivalent certificates issued to candidates over the age of 16 but less than 19 years of age must have age restriction recorded on the certificate. (Refer to the WCB Standard OFA1 part AGE) 2.3 Candidate Application Form Each candidate must sign an application form that contains, but is not limited to, the following information: a) A statement whereby the candidate agrees to share their personal information contained on the registration form with WorkSafeBC, E.g., By signing this application form the registrant agrees to share their personal information with WorkSafeBC. The Training Agency acknowledges that any information disclosed to WorkSafeBC will be subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, b) The candidate s name, permanent mailing address, current phone number, date of birth and the date of application, and Page 10 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

11 c) A statement whereby the candidate agrees to perform his/her duties as an attendant according to the principles of first aid and abide by the terms and conditions of certification as outlined in the course training materials, the WCB Standard OFA 1 and the OHSR Additional information that may be included: a) Previous certificate number and history of certification and/or any other relevant training, b) Candidate s occupation, and c) Employer s name, mailing address and phone number. 2.4 Candidate Identification All OFA, TE and/or equivalent candidates must produce one piece of acceptable photographic identification (ID) before certification may be granted. Refer to Appendix A for additional information and a list of acceptable identification For OFA Level 1 and TE or equivalent course candidates, prior to certification the instructor must scrutinize the ID produced by the candidate and, indicate on the course documentation that their ID was checked For OFA Level 2 and Level 3 or equivalent course examinations the examiner must scrutinize the ID produced by the candidate and, indicate on the exam documentation that their ID was checked For all OFA and equivalent courses, no personal information found on the ID produced by the candidate may be recorded (simply note the type of ID produced e.g., BCID, BCDL, Gov. ID etc on the course or exam records do not record ID numbers or make photocopies of the ID etc) Candidates have the right to refuse to provide identification, disclose personal information or sign the application form; however, candidates refusing or failing to provide appropriate identification and/or do not agree to share their personal information (recorded on their course registration application) with WorkSafeBC and/or sign their application, must not be issued certification. 2.5 Examination and Certification Agencies must only issue OFA or equivalent certificates that have been approved by WorkSafeBC, Certification Services. For a list of approved certificate printers, contact the senior certification officer at Certification@WorkSafeBC.com. Page 11 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

12 2.5.1 Agencies must have written policies and procedures regarding OFA or equivalent examinations. Agency policies must include, but are not limited to: a) The manner in which the agency will invigilate OFA or equivalent written examinations, b) Who may invigilate the OFA or equivalent written examination, c) How the integrity and security of the examination materials will be protected, d) How the agency will administer oral examinations if oral examinations are considered by the agency, e) The circumstances leading to a candidate qualifying for an oral written examination, f) How the agency will manage candidates who are discovered, or are suspected of, cheating in any portion of an examination, g) Whether, and under what circumstances, the course instructor is authorized to observe practical examinations, h) When written examinations will be conducted, i) Acceptable standards of candidate performance at examinations for OFA 2, OFA 3 or equivalent instructors, and j) The assistance available to OFA 3 and equivalent instructors who fall short of acceptable performance standards The agency is responsible for eliciting and analyzing candidate feedback about instructor and examiner performance for every course. Course candidates must be instructed to complete the course summative evaluations (feedback surveys) clearly and legibly Where there is a requirement for candidates to participate in a full course of instruction, agencies must not present any portion of an examination to OFA or equivalent course candidates until the full course of instruction has been completed, using the course schedule approved by WorkSafeBC. 2.6 Level 1, TE and Equivalent Courses To qualify for a Level 1 certificate, a Transportation Endorsement or equivalent, a candidate must successfully complete the full course of instruction, must successfully demonstrate all required competencies, and must achieve a grade of at least 70% on the written portion of the examination (if required) as instructed and evaluated by an agency recognized by WorkSafeBC Instructors must ensure candidates achieve required competencies prior to issuing certification. Page 12 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

13 2.6.3 Excluding nutrition and/or health breaks, the OFA Level 1, the TE and equivalent courses are each a minimum of 7 hours in length. Additional time must be added to the course duration to compensate for all breaks Failure to successfully demonstrate all required certification competencies or achieve a grade of at least 70% on the written portion of the examination or failure to complete the course or written examination (if required), is considered a failure of the whole course. Candidates will be required to complete the course again in its entirety. 2.7 OFA Level 2, Level 3 and Equivalent Courses To qualify for an initial Level 2, Level 3 or equivalent certificate, a candidate must successfully complete a Level 2, a Level 3 or an equivalent training course and achieve a grade of at least 70% on each of the written, oral, and practical portions of the examination conducted by a person authorized by WorkSafeBC Candidates who complete the OFA Level 2, Level 3 or equivalent training, may delay the examination for up to 6 months prior to completing the practical examination. The agency must verify that the candidate has met all of the certification prerequisites prior to examination. The agency must have a policy that addresses examinations that are delayed by the candidate and/or the agency. The policy must be communicated to candidates upon registration for the OFA and/or equivalent courses The duration of the OFA Level 2 and equivalent course is a minimum of 36 hours of instructional time, excluding any nutrition and/or health breaks and excluding the examination. The duration of the OFA Level 3 and equivalent course is a minimum of 70 hours excluding nutrition and/or health breaks and excluding the examination. Additional time must be added to the course duration to compensate for all breaks Failure in any part of the written, oral, or practical examination or failure to complete a full examination is considered a failure of the whole examination. Candidates will be required to sit the examination again in its entirety (written, oral, and practical), regardless of marks obtained in various segments in the first examination Should the second examination also result in failure, the candidate must undergo a full course of instruction prior to being eligible for another examination. Page 13 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

14 2.7.6 Persons holding a current advanced first aid certificate (a first aid or prehospital emergency care course consisting of 70 hours or more) may challenge the exam Candidates are to be advised that, depending on the nature of the course that led to their current certification; there may be equipment, protocol, and procedure (e.g. patient assessment, packaging and first aid treatment) differences that impact exam results. 2.8 Paramedic in Industry (PII) Course To qualify for a PII certificate, candidates must possess a valid Emergency Medical Responder license or higher, issued by the B.C. Emergency Medical Assistant s Licensing Board PII course candidates must be trained and certified by an instructor who possesses a valid OFA Level 3 or equivalent instructor certificate. 2.9 Practical Examinations Agencies must not permit OFA equivalent examiners to conduct WorkSafeBCdeveloped OFA examinations until competency has been assessed by an OFA training agency recognized by WorkSafeBC Agencies must not permit OFA examiners to conduct OFA equivalent examinations until competency has been assessed by an OFA equivalent training agency recognized by WorkSafeBC Practical examinations must have no fewer than 3 and not more than 6 candidates per session or block of exams Agencies that have determined due to extraordinary and unusual circumstances that it is necessary to conduct a practical examination with 7 candidates, must apply to Certification Services for a variance from of the Standard. Contact a certification officer or the senior certification officer at Certification@WorkSafeBC.com to discuss circumstances that are considered unusual and extraordinary Agencies that conduct examinations with more than 6 candidates participating in the practical component without prior authorization from Certification Services will be in breach of this Standard and the Agency Registration Agreement. A breach of the Training and Certification Standard may result in suspension of the training agency status and/or cancellation of the Agency Registration Agreement. Page 14 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

15 2.9.4 If, due to circumstances beyond the control of the agency, there are fewer than the minimum number of candidates to be examined (fewer than 3); an agency may use volunteers (or the course instructor if the agency policy allows it) to assist. If volunteers are used, they must be briefed on the examination procedures including appropriate conversation and behavior during an exam. Thorough documentation must accompany the class file to explain any deviation from this requirement The agency must have a policy regarding the use of volunteers acting in the capacity of patient and/or helper during practical examinations Examiners must not participate as a patient during any practical examination or allow any unnecessary and/or unreasonable distractions from the task of examining and grading candidates Examiners must conduct practical examinations in accordance with Appendix C of this Standard OFA and equivalent certification may only be issued by an agency that has exchanged an agreement with WorkSafeBC using examination material and content developed or approved by WorkSafeBC Following the conclusion of an OFA 2, OFA 3 and/or equivalent practical examination, the results (pass/fail and an explanation of deductions, if any) must be discreetly communicated to candidates individually Upon the conclusion of a practical OFA or equivalent examination, a copy of the examination document must be provided to candidates without delay (i.e., a copy of the marking or grading sheet is promptly provided) Medical fitness All OFA 2, OFA 3 and/or equivalent course candidates must complete a Statement of fitness prior to the start of OFA 2, OFA 3 and/or equivalent courses. Statements of fitness must be reviewed by the agency for errors and/or omissions prior to certification being granted The certifying agency must keep completed statements of fitness in the course file for the duration of the certificate (3 years) Candidates that indicate on their statement of fitness that they do not meet the fitness requirements for certification, or if it becomes obvious during their course that they have a medical, physical or psychological challenge, the agency must require the candidate to submit to the agency a medical report of fitness on a form acceptable to WorkSafeBC, prior to OFA or equivalent certification being granted. Page 15 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

16 A medical report of fitness form acceptable to WorkSafeBC may be found at For the purpose of certification, the medical report of fitness required by must not be older than 6 months from the date of the candidate s OFA practical examination and must be kept in the course file for three years from the date that a certificate is issued to the candidate Certification Renewal Extensions of OFA and equivalent certificates are not available To renew an OFA Level 1 certificate or a TE or equivalent certificate, a candidate must meet the same application, training and examination requirements as for initial certification (i.e., they must successfully retake the full course or its equivalent and achieve all required certification competencies) To renew an OFA Level 2 or OFA Level 3 or equivalent certificate, a candidate may take the examination without retaking the initial certification course or any other additional training if, on the date of the examination, less than two years has elapsed since the expiry of the certificate. Renewing candidates must produce a certificate that proves they are eligible to take the examination without participating in a course A copy (or reasonable facsimile) of the candidate s previous OFA Level 2 or OFA Level 3 certificate must be placed in the examination and/or course file The agency must have a policy regarding the registration of OFA and equivalent candidate s for examination without participating in a course or for registration in an OFA 3 Refresher course OFA Level 2 or Level 3 certificate or equivalent candidates must achieve a grade of at least 70% on each of the written, practical and oral portions of the examination Appeals and Complaints The existence of an appeal and complaints procedure must be communicated to candidates An agency must have a written appeal and complaint procedure in place that indicates how to address issues regarding: Page 16 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

17 a) OFA Level 1, TE and/or equivalent course competency assessments conducted by the instructor that are required for candidate certification, b) OFA and/or equivalent course instructor conduct, c) The application of the Standard Grading Criteria and the deduction of OFA Level 2, Level 3 or equivalent practical examination marks, and d) OFA and equivalent course examiner conduct The procedure must also describe a course of action for a complainant who is not satisfied with the agency s investigative conduct, the conclusions reached, or resolution offered and complaints of conflict of interest The agency must maintain accurate and comprehensive records of appeals and resolutions and must be available for inspection when requested by an Officer of WorkSafeBC. When requested, the agency must communicate directly with WorkSafeBC 3. Maintenance and Management of Records 3.1 Agencies must maintain a record of all training and certification activities. Stored records must be protected from physical harm or loss and managed in a sensible and logical manner. Records must be organized and indexed so they are easily retrievable (e.g. alphabetical and/or chronological) A training agency must: a) Maintain an accurate record of OFA and/or equivalent courses, course candidates, course instructors, course examiners, training equipment cleaning and disinfection records, training facility maintenance records, appeals, complaints and other investigation reports, and all other relevant training records, b) Secure all records within Canada for three years or for the duration of the certificate(s) issued, c) Make all records available for inspection when requested by an officer of WorkSafeBC, and d) Forward all requested records to WorkSafeBC, within the time limits set by WorkSafeBC Records will include, depending on the type of course, the following information: a) A completed and signed candidate application form (all courses), Page 17 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

18 b) A signed (by the candidate) and dated copy of the terms and conditions of certification (all courses), c) A record of all candidates in attendance in all courses/lessons (all courses), d) A record of classroom achievement (practical skills checklists) including a record of any remedial training (all courses), e) Practical examination documentation (Level 2, Level 3 or equivalent examinations. Documentation includes the original practical exam marking sheets, and all patient assessment and first aid records produced during the practical examination), f) Homework marks (Level 2, Level 3 and equivalent courses), g) Midterm written exam marks (Level 3 and equivalent courses), h) The original written examination answer sheets, dated with the candidate s full printed name and signature (all courses), i) Completed first aid records (for OFA Level 1 and equivalent courses), j) Certificate numbers issued (all courses), and k) Candidate summative evaluations (feedback forms all courses) Agencies that prefer to store training, certification and other relevant records electronically must submit a proposal for the storage of electronic records to WorkSafeBC Certification Services. Proposals must consider factors such as compliance risk and must outline how the following issues will be addressed: a) Document accuracy, b) Document quality, c) Accessibility of documents, d) Document security, e) Overall document legibility, f) Legibility of small details (e.g., punctuation, decimal points), g) Completeness of document detail (e.g., broken characters), h) Dimensional accuracy compared with the original document, i) Scanner-generated speckle, j) Missing information at the edges of the image area, k) Density of solid black areas and colour fidelity, and l) Long-term viability of stored documents The proposal must include specifics regarding the document storage system, confidentiality of information, storage location, filing and retrieval method(s) and the how the quality of particular document types where applicable, (for example legibility of hand-written signatures and text), will be ensured. 3.2 Instructor Records Agencies must maintain up to date and accurate instructor records Active instructor training, certification, renewal and reinstatement records are to be maintained, kept up to date and held in confidence by the agency. Page 18 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

19 Instructors who have conducted OFA or equivalent courses within 3 years of the last course conducted for the agency are considered active The agency must maintain documentation on all instructors in their employ, including but not limited to: a) Qualifications, certification history and other authorizations, b) A record of any contact with the instructor s previous employment references or an explanation if the previous employment references were not reviewed, c) Exam analysis, d) Competency assessments, e) Courses conducted, f) Candidate performance standards (pass/fail ratios), g) Appeals and complaints investigations, h) Remediation records, and i) Investigation of poor performance. 3.3 Examiner Records Agencies must maintain up to date and accurate examiner records Active examiner training, certification, renewal and reinstatement records are to be maintained, kept up to date, and held in confidence by the agency. Examiners who have conducted OFA or equivalent course examinations within the previous 3 years of the last exam conducted for the agency are considered active The agency must maintain documentation on all examiners in their employ, including but not limited to: a) Qualifications, certification history and other authorizations, b) A record of any contact with the examiner s previous employment references or an explanation if the previous employment references were not reviewed, c) Exam analysis, d) Competency assessments, e) Examinations conducted, f) Pass/fail ratios, g) Appeals and complaints investigations, and h) Remediation records. Page 19 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

20 4. Training Facility Requirements 4.1 Equipment and Supplies A Training Agency must ensure that the first aid equipment and supplies listed in Appendix B are available, clean, serviceable and ready for use in each class Equipment that makes direct contact with course candidates must be kept in a sanitary condition according to standards specified in the OFA training materials, the Training and Certification Standard and any equipment manufacturer recommendations. 4.2 Classroom The classroom used for instructing OFA and equivalent candidates must meet the requirements of WorkSafeBC for practical demonstration, class practice floor space requirements, and instructor or examiner observation of candidate competencies. A minimum of 46.5 sq. meters (500 sq. feet) of clear working space per class is required The instructor and examiner must have an unobstructed view of candidates during the training and/or examination The facility and faculty must comply with all relevant sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and applicable building/occupancy/electrical/fire/other codes The classroom(s) used for first aid instruction must be illuminated, heated and ventilated as required for an office in Part 4: General Conditions of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. 4.3 Supervision The agency must have a classroom supervision policy and written procedures designed to prevent the development of unsafe conditions or inappropriate conduct. The agency is also responsible for supervising instructors and/or examiners and for conducting routine performance assessments to ensure: a) Instructors and examiners are using the appropriate version of the course instructor guide, approved supplementary training and/or examination materials, b) Instructors and examiners adhere to the prescribed curriculum, agenda and examination protocol, c) Instructor and examiner classroom and examination conduct is appropriate, Page 20 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

21 d) Instructors and examiners correctly complete the required course and/or examination records and other relevant course or examination documentation e) OFA Level 1, TE and equivalent candidates achieve all required competencies prior to issuing certification. The course skills achievement record must indicate that the candidate was successful prior to issuing certification and the certificate numbers issued must be recorded, f) OFA Level 2, OFA Level 3 and equivalent candidates have met the examination eligibility requirements prior to the examination, and g) OFA Level 2, Level 3 and equivalent candidates achieve all required competencies prior to issuing certification. 5. Occupational First Aid Instructors 5.1 Policy All agencies must have policies regarding the requirements for initial instructor training and certification The agency instructor training policies must include, but are not limited to: a) A dispute resolution policy, b) Candidate first aid experience requirements, c) Instructor candidate performance expectations and expected outcomes during their training, d) Instructor certification requirements, and e) Quality improvement opportunities The agency instructor training policies must be communicated to instructor candidates prior to enrollment into an instructor training course or mentoring program The agency is responsible for ensuring the instructor candidate is qualified with respect to experience relevant to the subject matter of the course being trained to instruct. Prior to an instructor candidate being approved to participate in an instructor training or mentoring program, the agency is expected to verify the candidate s qualifications and to inquire with any references provided by the instructor candidate. A record of the reference and background check must be kept In the event of a dispute between the instructor candidate and the agency, the agency will make every attempt to resolve the dispute relying on the agency policies and procedures for instructor training. Page 21 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

22 5.2 Instructor Prerequisites All Instructor candidates must meet the prerequisites and criteria as outlined below for the course level they wish to instruct. Equivalent course instructor candidates must meet any additional prerequisites and/or criteria relevant to the equivalent course deemed to meet or exceed the OFA requirements To be an instructor of an OFA Level 1 or equivalent course, an instructor candidate must: a) Be at least 19 years of age prior to instructor training, b) Hold a current/valid Standard First Aid certificate or higher, c) Have successfully participated in a complete OFA Level 1 or, for OFA Level 1 equivalent course instructor candidates, have successfully participated in an OFA Level 1 equivalent course and scored 85% or higher on the written examination (i.e., achieve certification) not more than 6 months prior to initial instructor training, and d) Complete a WorkSafeBC Jurisprudence Package. Evidence of completion must be included in the instructor candidate s training file To be an instructor of the Transportation Endorsement (TE) or equivalent course, a candidate must: a) Hold a valid OFA Level 1 or equivalent instructor certificate, b) Hold a valid OFA Level 3 or equivalent first aid certificate, and c) Have successfully participated in a complete OFA TE or equivalent TE course not more than 6 months prior to initial TE instructor training (i.e., achieve certification) To be an instructor of an OFA Level 2 or Level 3 or equivalent course, a candidate must: a) Hold a valid OFA Level 2, Level 3 or equivalent first aid certificate or a current emergency pre-hospital care attendant certificate or license (course consisting of 70 hours or more) and have held it for at least the preceding four years, b) Participate in a complete OFA Level 3 or, a complete OFA Level 3 equivalent course and successfully complete the examination, not more than 6 months prior to participating in the initial instructor training process, and c) Achieve 85% or greater on each part of the OFA Level 3 or equivalent examination An agency may give consideration to candidates who have not held an OFA Level 3 or equivalent first aid certificate for the preceding four years provided the candidate(s) meet all of the following criteria. Page 22 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

23 Candidates must: a) Have held an OFA Level 3 or equivalent first aid certificate or a current emergency pre-hospital care certificate or license (course consisting of 70 hours or more) for at least the preceding two years, and b) Have been employed as a designated OFA attendant or pre-hospital responder (advanced level first aid volunteer, ambulance etc.) together with verifiable patient contacts for the preceding two years, and c) Hold a current OFA Level 1 instructor certificate or equivalent instructor certificate, and have instructed OFA Level 1 or equivalent courses within the preceding 2 years. 5.3 Instructor Certification Terms and Conditions Instructors must conduct themselves professionally and follow the standards and protocols outlined in the Occupational First Aid Reference and Training Manual, the OFA and/or equivalent instructor guides, and the Training and Certification Standard; To ensure a high standard of instructor conduct, instructors must sign a standard application or agreement with the certifying agency. The agreement must include: a) The terms and conditions of certification as outlined in the OFA Instructor guides or any equivalent instructor guides and any other terms and conditions required by the Agency, b) A statement regarding the instructor s ability to instruct WorkSafeBC approved courses may be denied or restricted by the agency or by WorkSafeBC for a breach of a term or condition of the instructor agreement, and c) A statement regarding the instructor s responsibility to present their instructor s certificate or letter for inspection when requested by an agency or by officer of WorkSafeBC The agency must document any situation in which an instructor s conduct was inconsistent with required procedures and/or instructor terms and conditions, and record what corrective action was taken or the reasons if none was taken, and how improvement is to be measured. A copy of an investigation report may be requested by an Officer of WorkSafeBC. 5.4 OFA Instructor Training and Certification The following provides an overview of the minimum requirements for all OFA and/or equivalent instructor training and certification programs. The focus is on participants becoming familiar with the OFA or equivalent course content, the presentation of the courses and the evaluation of first aid skills The content must be delivered by, and the candidates must be evaluated by, a qualified person. The agency policies and procedures must establish the qualifications of instructor trainers (IT). Page 23 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

24 5.4.2 Qualified persons must have adequate training and relevant experience to effectively facilitate the OFA or equivalent instructor course The agency must have supporting documentation of all IT training, qualifications and certification in the agency files Prior to instructor training, the agency facilitating the training must ensure that all instructor candidates meet the prerequisites required by section 5.2 of the Training and Certification Standard If an instructor mentoring program is utilized to train and certify OFA or equivalent instructors, the agency must document the methods used to assess instructor competency. 5.5 Instructor Training WorkSafeBC must be notified a minimum of 30 days in advance of all instructor training. Notification must be in writing and where practicable, must include the training dates, times, locations, the names and qualifications of the instructor trainers or mentors and any other relevant details regarding the training Instructor training can be accomplished by two different methods; agencies may train instructors by completing either: a) A formal OFA or equivalent instructor training program, either Level 1 and TE or Level 3. A formal instructor training program must have no fewer than 5 candidates enrolled to ensure adequate practice by each potential instructor, or b) A structured mentoring process as outlined in the Instructor Training Home Study Guide. An agency that chooses this option must have a written instructor mentoring plan that includes how the specific instructor training competencies listed in section will be achieved Prior to an agency issuing instructor certification the agency will ensure individuals have demonstrated the competencies listed in section The agency will have a separate file for each instructor candidate that includes: a) Documentation of all prerequisites (as outlined in section 5.2) b) A signed and dated copy of the Instructor Agreement that includes the instructor s concurrence with the instructor certification terms and conditions (as outlined in section 5.3) Page 24 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014

25 c) A copy of the notification provided to WorkSafeBC (as outlined in section 5.5.1) For candidates that participated in a formal instructor training program the agency instructor file must contain a letter attesting to the fact that the candidate graduated from that program. The letter must be from the agency that conducted the training For candidates that participated in a structured instructor mentoring program the instructor file must contain documentation that during instructor training the instructor candidate demonstrated competency in each primary skill area listed below; i. effective time management and class control ii. lecture technique iii. media technique iv. demonstration technique v. questioning technique vi. critique/positive corrective feedback vii. military drill viii. student practice ix. competency assessment skills x. priority action drill (Level 2, Level 3 and equivalent only) and xi. situation practical (Level 2, Level 3 and equivalent only) Prior to an agency issuing instructor certification authorizing the instructor to start instructing on their own, all candidates must be assessed for competency. Formal competency assessment sample forms may be found online at Instructor Assessment of Competency Form Following the completion of instructor training and successfully demonstrating competency, the agency will issue instructor certification (either in certificate or letter form) to the instructor candidate indicating: a) The name of the agency granting the certification b) The full legal name of the candidate (name on their photo ID) c) The instructor level (L1, L1 &TE or L3 or equivalent courses) d) The issuance and expiry date, two (2) year instructor certification and e) A reference to the instructor s acceptance of the terms and conditions of instructor certification Page 25 of 61 Training and Certification Standard April, 2014