Health & Safety

Introduction

We are often asked 'what training do we need for our staff to be safe and what policies and procedures do we need to do for business compliance.'

At Training Express we will give you this information freely. Where applicable, our course information sheets states the relevant legislation. And we have an FAQ section on this page. However, if you require more detailed help then we provide a number of consultancy services designed to meet the specific needs of your business or organisation for example Confined Space Audits, Method Statements & Health & Safety Policies.

 
Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a health and safety policy?
• What are risk assessments and do I need to do them?
• Are there any recent changes in health and safety legislation that I should be aware of?
• What duties do I have to train my staff?

 

Do I need a health and safety policy?

The Health and Safety at Work Act imposes a duty on every employer of five or more persons to prepare and bring to the notice of employees a written statement of general policy with respect to their health and safety at work.

 

Policies should be written and then signed and dated by a director or owner. A typical health and safety policy would include: -

• A general statement of intent
• How people and their duties are organised
• Health and safety arrangements
• Appendices on specific aspects of health and safety where necessary

 

All such policies must be ‘living’ documents and must be reviewed and updated from time to time or as and when required by law.
 

 

What are risk assessments and do I need to do them?

Probably, most organisations do nowadays. Depending on the nature of your business how you assess risk and how its recorded will vary considerably. As a starter try the links below from the Health and Safety Executives Website: -

> Principles of risk assessment requirements

> Five steps to risk assessment

 

Are there any recent changes in health and safety legislation that I should be aware of?

Health and safety legislation is reviewed, changed and updated on a regular basis. You will find useful information on the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk and also in your professional journals. Furthermore the HSE or your local Environmental Health Department can provide useful information. You can also contact us.

 

What duties do I have to train my staff?

Several pieces of legislation refer to the training of staff, in particular the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. Risk assessment plays an essential role in identifying training and development needs.

Typically an organisation may need to consider

• First Aid
• Fire
• Work Equipment
• Manual Handling
• Display Screen Equipment
• Confined spaces
• Other specialist areas

 

Where a risk assessment cannot control the risk sufficiently then a safe system of work should be implemented through the production of a written Method Statement.

Many organisations select to provide their training in-house, however there is often a need to buy in training from external sources to compliment this. This is where we can help.