Why is it essential for employers to provide health and safety training within the workplace for all its employees? Aside from the obvious fact that basic health and safety training is required by law, employers benefit from the knowledge their staff acquire in several ways.
Firstly it is astonishing to know just how many health and safety related accidents and injuries, even fatal accidents which occur within the workplace every year, or illnesses which are related to the workplace, for example increased susceptibility to asthma attacks working in locations which have chemicals and excess dust. Making staff aware of the dangers and risks which could potentially occur at work can reduce senseless accidents happening.
Initialising a positive attitude towards health and safety makes employees more competent in the work place; it also avoids the distresses which accidents and illness cause.
By law every employer has to ensure as far as is reasonably possible that all employees receive the appropriate levels of health and safety training for their area of work, however there are so many different aspects of health and safety which need to be addressed which may include several different courses purely to make sure each discipline is accounted for properly.
For instance the training required within an office setting will differ greatly to that required by works on a construction site, which in turn will differ to those needed by someone working in an industry which handles hazardous chemicals or waste.
Most places of work have computers and therefore Display Screen Equipment (DSE) or Visual Display Unit (VDU) assessment will be required, this will generally cover a wide assessment of not only the DES itself but the surrounding working area including desk or workstation and chair which is sat on.
If you work on a building site the need to cover aspects such as working at height and personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required. This will include the use of protective clothing such as hard hats and steel toe capped shoes, luminous vests etc, whereas working at height may include the successful completion of a training course ensuring that construction workers are competent working on scaffold towers, this kind of training applies not only in construction but also in the telecommunications and energy supply sectors too.
Employees working in places such as hospitals, laboratories, chemists, foundries etc, anywhere which has hazardous chemicals will require training in COSHH, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, this is a main area in health and safety training covering an essential topic.
Ensuring that all employees have experienced the relevant training, including taking refresher courses where new laws have been integrated and guidelines updated is essential, for the safe running of a company or business, remember as an employer there are several aspects of health and safety which are not covered by insurance so it is in your best interests to be safe rather than sorry.
Author Resource:-
Anna Stenning researches why it is essential for employers to provide health and safety training for all of its employees.
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