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FM CAREERS - TRAINING
Every workplace setting presents its own
unique health and safety risks. From heavy
li ing to o ice fire hazards, employees
are subjected to a range of potential threats
throughout the working day. Yet too many
business owners are failing to put in place the
necessary safety measures that will allow their
sta to operate e ectively and without disruptions.
Equipping employees with the expertise and
training to carry out their roles safely should be a
fundamental requirement for all businesses. It’s not
just about doing the right thing – it’s the law. Since
the introduction of various health and safety Acts,
notably the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA)
1974 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
2005, businesses have been legally obliged to
accept their greater duty of care.
In particular, these Acts require workplaces to
provide adequate training of sta to ensure that
health and safety procedures are understood and
adhered to, as well as adequate welfare provisions
for sta at work. Overall, employers are expected to
ensure a safe working environment that is properly
maintained, where operations are conducted safely
and with suitable provision of relevant
information, instruction and
supervision.
While many have
disputed the ambiguity
surrounding the
qualifying phrase ‘so
far as is reasonably
practicable’ (see
References, note 1),
this legislation has
succeeded in shi ing
societal attitudes
by demonstrating a
business’s responsibility
to properly safeguard its
workforce. In many areas
some form of training is legally
required. All sta , for example,
regardless of the environment in which
they work, must have fire awareness training.
Similarly, those using display screen equipment
(DSE) must be given training to help them avoid
RSI, headaches, eyestrain and back problems, all of
which contribute to absenteeism.
THE COST OF NEGLIGENCE
Businesses that do not put the proper safety
measures in place run a number of risks, ranging
from work-related injuries and falls in productivity
to costly lawsuits and compensation and loss of
reputation.
Take the retail sector, which employs three
million employees in the UK. These workers
need to have the appropriate health and safety
knowledge to li and move stock correctly (2). This
sounds like a straightforward task, but if performed
incorrectly can easily result in the employee injuring
themselves or others. Meanwhile, the construction
industry is responsible for some of the highest
worker fatalities each year; in 2018/19, 30 workers
were killed on construction sites (3). It’s essential
that workers know how to keep themselves, their
colleagues and the public safe – it can be a matter of
life and death.
Health and safety negligence has a direct and
negative impact on the performance of a business.
Statistics from the HSE show that 30.7 million
working days are lost due to work-related illness
and workplace injury each year (4). That can lead
to significantly increased costs, due to hiring
temporary replacements, for example. Failing to
safeguard employees can also result
in significant damage to the
organisation’s reputation;
businesses seen to be
careless of their sta ’s
safety and welfare
risk being lambasted
by the media,
leading to negative
public opinion
and consequently
reduced profits and
revenue (5). Once this
spiral has begun, it
can be hard to reverse.
So how can businesses
equip their sta with the
knowledge they need in an
e icient, timely and cost-e ective
manner? The answer is simple – eLearning.
From manual handling to fire safety courses,
investing in carefully designed, interactive online
training provides an engaging way for sta to
complete required health and safety training, while
allowing businesses to work towards compliance
with legislation.
Incorrect manual handling is the cause of more
than a third of all workplace injuries that are
reported to authorities each year. Training in li ing
and handling can take as little as 35 minutes, but
the results can be hugely beneficial in the long
term. When it comes to fire safety and prevention,
a business that does not act responsibly is risking
lives and its own future – a staggering 60 per cent
of private businesses never recover from a fire (6).
Educating sta about the risks of fire and how to
keep the workplace safe is a legal duty as well as
good business sense.
These are just two examples. A wide variety
of online learning courses is available, covering
everything from food safety and hygiene to asbestos
awareness, working at height, handling hazardous
substances and prevention of slips, trips and falls.
The main asset of any organisation is its people.
Without a healthy and productive workforce, no
business can expect to enjoy long-term success.
Training sta to manage, avoid and prevent the
risks and hazards of the workplace helps to keep
them safe, meets legal requirements, and allows the
business to operate smoothly and achieve its goals.
WATCH AND LEARN
Interactive online courses are an effi cient and cost-eff ective way to
deliver essential health and safety training, argues Alex Wilkins, Head
of Business Development at iHASCO
Health and safety negligence
has a direct and negative impact on
the performance of a business.
Statistics from the HSE show that
30.7 million working days are lost
due to work-related illness
and workplace injury
each year.”
REFERENCE NOTES
1 https://worksmart.org.uk/health-advice/health-and-safety/
employer-duties/what-health-and-safety-work-act
2 www.hse.gov.uk/retail/index.htm
3 www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf
4 www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/dayslost.htm
5 www.hse.gov.uk/business/costs-damage.htm
6 www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-workplace/o iceenvironments/
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