The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on employers to provide information, instruction and training.
Information
Information means providing factual material to people about risks, and health and safety measures.
Instruction
Instruction means telling people what they can and cannot do.
Training
Training means helping people to learn how to do things. Training will help people gain the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge to make them competent in the health and safety aspects of their job. Not to be confused with instruction, training forms an integral part of the health and safety regime in any workplace. It makes staff more aware of, and responsible for, their acts or omissions. Training must always be relevant, understandable and of an ongoing nature and can take many forms. Training can be carried out by any competent person in house or via an external provider. The law states that you must provide training during working hours and not at the expense of employees. This includes both part-timers and shift workers.
Qdos is able to deliver Employee Health & Safety Awareness Training as part of a range of training services.
New Employees
All new staff need induction training, regardless of their age and this should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity. Young and inexperienced people need a lot more. As an example your induction should cover the following points; the company's safety policy and arrangements you have made regarding health and safety issues, both the company's and employees' responsibilities, fire, evacuation and accident procedures and reporting, specific job hazards and safe systems of work. Staff are not allowed to operate any machinery, unless they have been trained in the safe use of the machine.
Training must be provided when staff are exposed to new or increased risks. Refresher training will be required to keep skills up to date.
A record of all training courses must be kept (including induction training) that employees have received.
Caution: This statement gives basic information on health and safety. Please contact the Advice Line for specific advice. Contact Us.