Training is critical for preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace. Having important thorough health and safety training helps to mitigate the risks that could cause accidents, and the whole team therefore will be aware of these issues whilst undertaking their day-to-day tasks. Having good training also helps employees to know what to do if an emergency does occur.
Keep on reading to find out more about how health and safety training can help to prevent accidents and injuries.
Improved health and safety training means employees can identify and assess risks in the workplace
Health and safety training can help employers identify and assess risks in the workplace. By providing employees with the knowledge and skills to identify hazards, they can take proactive measures to prevent accidents and injuries from occurring.
As mentioned by the Health and Safety Executive, ‘effective training will help make your employees more competent in health and safety, as well as help your business avoid the distress that accidents and ill health cause.’
A safe working environment
Effective health and safety training programs can help employers develop and implement policies and procedures that promote a safe work environment. The improved procedures will make all tasks a safer and more pleasant environment to be working in, and all employees will feel like they are in safe hands if a situation was to occur.
For example, if you are working in the building industry, including good health and safety training will ensure everyone on the team uses the correct tools, which in hand will help ensure injuries are minimised. Team members will also be more vigilant in ensuring tools are being used correctly.
Staying current on new laws and regulations
Regular health and safety training can also help employees stay current on new regulations and industry standards, ensuring compliance with legal requirements. For example, the law states that all employers need to provide the correct amount of PPE available for employees if needed. If all employees are aware of this rule, then if it’s not being followed then they can bring this up with management.
This will benefit the employee’s safety as well as the reputation of the business. This is important for any business, however particularly important for smaller businesses where they have a smaller workforce. Any absences from safety related issues may have a negative effect on the ability to complete tasks.
Leadership
Leadership plays a crucial role in promoting a culture of safety in the workplace. Health and safety training can be used to reinforce this culture by educating employees on the importance of safety and encouraging them to take an active role in preventing accidents and injuries. Strong leadership in the business will in hand help the business to thrive, beyond health and safety training.
Overall, health and safety training is an essential component of preventing accidents and injuries in the workplace. It helps to ensure that employees are aware of potential hazards and know how to respond to them, in hand helping employers create a safe work environment that complies with legal requirements.
