Health and Safety - Information, Instruction and Training

What training in Health and Safety should I receive at work?

Employers are required under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to provide "such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of his employees". There are a number of other statutory requirements for training. When deciding what training is needed, these requirements need to be considered along with what will benefit employees. By looking at accident records a particular area which requires staff training may be identified.

What other legislation covers training?

Some of the legal requirements for training are included in -

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992
The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992
The Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992

Who needs to be given information, instruction and training?

There are many different groups of people who require information within the working environment -

Your own employees ( with respect to their own activities)
Other people's employees or self employed (with respect to the hazards they may be exposed to while on your premises)
Temporary staff ( who will be unfamiliar with your premises and activities)
Visitors or members of the public ( who need to be warned about hazardous activities or areas)
When deciding who requires more formal training think about the needs of managers and supervisors. Ensure that you look at the needs of all your workers, don't forget new recruits, part time workers, young workers and shift workers.

What type of training is needed?

It is important to identify what training is required and what the objectives you wish to achieve. Giving people the wrong training or too much is a waste of time and money. Here is a list of key training areas;

The Company health and safety policy and procedures.
Specific health and safety risks which are present on the Company site
Precautions which must be taken to prevent risks from arising
Emergency and evacuation procedures
Individuals responsibilities with respect to health and safety and site rules
How to use equipment/machinery and personal protective equipment
Accident reporting procedure
First aid procedure
Staff need to be made aware of new or changing issues, for example, when a new piece of equipment is introduced.

When do employees need the information, instruction and training?

New employees are known to be more likely to have accidents than those who have had time to recognise the hazards of the workplace. Therefore it is important that new employees should be given training before they start work, usually as part of induction training.

What about the training of young people?

Young and inexperienced staff, especially those straight form school or college, who have not been in a work situation previously are particularly at risk form injury.

When would employees need refresher training?

Refresher training for existing employees is important to reinforce good practices. This is of particular value if employees do not carry out a particular task or use a particular piece of equipment on a regular basis or where staff have become complacent or have picked up bad habits.

How do I know that the training has been effective?

One of the most important step in providing training to evaluate whether the training given has been effective. Training can be evaluated by gaining feedback from the candidates, for example, asking if they have understood what they have been told, or observing employees to see if they are putting into practice what they have learnt and by looking at your safety record.

Where can I found more information about training?

"5 steps to information, Instruction and training" HSE IND9G0213(L)
can be obtained be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive at http://www.hse.gov.uk/