The importance of Health & Safety training

Training staff is a statutory requirement and an essential part of managing risk within any organisation. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 emphasises the importance of health and safety training, stating that employers must provide suitable information, instruction and training for all employees.

Making sure your organisation has the correct training programme in place for all members of the team will not only help to establish a positive health and safety culture within your company, but it will also keep staff informed of all the latest requirements needed for them to carry out their role, providing individuals with a sense of responsibility to the business.

You should always ensure you have identified the particular training needs for:

• New recruits
• People within the organisation changing jobs, or taking on extra responsibilities
• Health & Safety representatives
• Young employees

As well as training your team, you must also ensure any contractors or self-employed people who may be working within your organisation has the right level of health & safety information they require to work within your organisation, such as:

• How to follow any emergency procedures
• Hazards and risks they may face, if any
• Measures in place to deal with those hazards and risks

Having a structured health & safety training programme in place can also help to reduce the financial costs of accident and occupational ill health, these will not necessarily be covered within your insurance policy.