If you’re thinking of rolling out a health & safety course to cover the most popular and relevant topics, there’s many areas you can cover to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant legislation. The course should aim to provide employees with the knowledge and skills to work safely and prevent workplace accidents and ill health.
We think the following topics are essential for inclusion in a general health and safety training course:
Understanding Health and Safety Law: Employees should be informed about the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, and other relevant legislation.
Workplace Hazards and Risk Management: Training should cover the identification of hazards, risk assessment, and the implementation of control measures to manage risks.
Fire Safety Awareness: This includes understanding fire hazards, fire prevention, and what to do in the event of a fire, including evacuation procedures.
Slips, Trips, and Falls: These are common workplace accidents, and training should cover how to prevent them.
Manual Handling: Employees should learn the correct techniques for lifting and moving objects to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
Display Screen Equipment (DSE): For those working with computers and other display screens, training should cover how to set up workstations to prevent strain and injury.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH): Basic understanding of COSHH is important for those who may come into contact with hazardous substances.
Electrical Safety: General awareness of electrical hazards and how to work safely with or near electricity.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The correct use and maintenance of PPE provided by the employer.
Emergency Procedures: Including fire evacuation and what to do in other emergencies.
Health and Safety Responsibilities: Both employers’ and employees’ responsibilities under health and safety law.
Safety Signs: Recognition and understanding of safety signs and signals used in the workplace.
First Aid: Basic first aid knowledge and the importance of first aid provision in the workplace.
Workplace Health, Wellbeing, and Welfare: Including occupational health, mental health, and the importance of a healthy working environment.
High-Risk Activities: Awareness of activities that are considered high-risk and require specific safety measures.
Environmental Management: Understanding the impact of work activities on the environment and how to minimise negative effects.
Specialist Activities: If relevant, training may also cover specific areas such as demolition, highway works, or working with particular types of machinery.
It is important that the training is tailored to the specific needs of the organisation and its employees, taking into account the particular risks they face in their roles. The training should also be regularly updated and refreshed to ensure ongoing compliance and to account for any changes in legislation or working practices.