If you are a manager or working in a supervisory role it’s vital that you have some health and safety knowledge. The very first place to start is learning about your legal duties to those who you are responsible for. If they are injured or killed in an accident you could be held responsible and prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). From there you’ll need to learn about managing the safety in your workplace and the NEBOSH General Certificate can provide you with this information and a lot more.

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Work Towards a Qualification Which Can Take You Places

A recognised qualification is the most valuable tool you can add to your career portfolio. There is little point training if you are not going to gain the recognition for your hard work if you decide to change jobs. It’s also important to have adequate training when it comes to health and safety so that you can successfully prove that you have received the right education and have the ability to help reduce the number of incidents in the workplace.

With the NEBOSH General Certificate you can train in occupational health and safety and receive a certificate which is recognised and respected. You’ll learn all of the necessary legal framework as well as focusing on your moral duties to those that you are responsible for. From there you’ll work on communication skills and how they are important to creating a culture within the workplace which understands and respects the importance of safety. Working together and understanding individual roles in safe working practices is vital.

Elements Covered in the Course

During the NEBOSH course you’ll cover:

  • How to identify possible hazards and how to control and reduce the risks associated with them using safe systems of work
  • Advising on minimising fire hazards and risks and develop a fire safety procedure
  • The effects working environments can have on health and how to combat the risks
  • Reporting and investigating accidents
  • Proactive and reactive health and safety monitoring
  • Key features of the policies
  • Health and safety audits

How You Learn is Up to You

You can choose to take the NEBOSH General Certificate course in a traditional classroom setting, at home via e-learning, online (instructor-led), alternatively by distance learning. If you don’t have the time to take off work or are unable to commit a certain amount of hours in one go the distance learning is a good option to take. You are able to learn at times to suit you and you’ll still have access to tutors to help you through the work. The tutor led classroom training is ideal if you wish to get the course out of the way and obtain your certificate in a classroom setting.

Most NEBOSH courses are available in a classroom setting, online (instructor-led, e-learning or through distance learning. Contact us on 0808 1966 830 to find the right course for you.

Other Health and Safety Training Courses

Health and safety laws are guidelines that are developed to ensure that safety procedures in the workplace are followed. These laws can relate to anything from the handling of toxic materials to working at heights to working in confined spaces.

Why are these health and safety regulations so important? Laws regarding health and safety are necessary for a number of reasons.

Accidents Can Cause Injury or Death

One of the most important reasons why health and safety laws are so important is because an accident can result in serious injury or even death for an employee. According to government statistics, there were 173 UK workers killed on the job in 2011/2012. There were also 111,000 injuries reported during that period. Danger can come in many forms depending on the workplace, including fire, toxic substances, machinery and falls from height.

Whether they are construction workers performing their job at height, operators of heavy machinery or factory workers, every employee has the right to do their job without risk of injury or death. Health and safety is important for safeguarding the lives of these workers for their sake as well as for their family and friends.

Health and Safety Laws – Accidents are Costly

It is in the best interest of a company to follow health and safety procedures and perform a task properly, because an accident that results from violating health and safety regulations can be very expensive for the business.

It is estimated that 26.4 million working days were lost in the UK in 2010/2011 due to work-related illness and injury. These absences decrease productivity and negatively affect the bottom line of the company. Also, accidents also involve the cost of repairs to equipment as well as any legal fees from a claim that might result.

If your company is paying a higher cost due to accidents and higher insurance premiums, it will be much more difficult to compete in the global marketplace. It makes good business sense to follow health and safety regulations and keep the workplace functioning smoothly.

Accidents are Bad Press

Another reason why health and safety laws are important for a company is that an accident not only puts a worker in danger and costs money but it also puts the company in a very negative light. When the details of the incident are made public, it gives the impression that the company is neglectful and does not care about the safety and well-being of its employees. Many people might also assume that the company is lacking in other ways and their perception of its products and services can be negatively affected.

There is no need to let an accident tarnish the reputation of a great company, as long as health and safety laws are followed.

Accidents are Bad for Morale

How do employees feel when their health and safety is not taken into account? If employees are being asked to work in situations that compromise their health or their safety, this can be incredibly demoralising and can breed frustration. Not paying any attention to health and safety shows workers that the management doesn’t care about what happens to them. Installing safe equipment and having proper working procedures shows employees respect and builds morale.

These are just a few of the reasons why health and safety laws are so important, for both employees and managers within the workplace.

Health and safety laws are a big deal, but why are they so important? These regulations make a serious difference to both employees and management.

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I think one of the hardest days is the day that you welcome a new staff member to your organisation. If you are in a managerial position, then this transition is a painful one as the new employee gets used to the way the company works, their job and they get to know the staff.

The Welcome

It doesn’t matter whether your work in an office in the centre of a city or on a construction site, it is important to go through specific workplace regulations on the first day.

You’ve done a risk assessment and you know the dangers in the workplace so it is so important that you ensure that every new member of staff that you hire understands them as well.

It is advisable that you have a document for new staff to sign which states that they have read and understood the company rules and policies and also the health and safety information. The first day for a new employee is not about jumping in and getting to work; instead it is a day of training and a day that both you and they should take very seriously.

You should allow an employee to start work without the proper health and safety training. I start by giving them copies of the manuals to read which advises them of any dangers in the workplace and gives them information on the workplace regulations. I then go over it with them to ensure they understand these rules before they sign, accepting what I have taught them.

Is this Training Essential?

The way I manage my staff may not be the way everyone wants to go about it, but I always believe if I set them off on the right track from day one then there is a reduced risk of anything going wrong.

Yes, often the new staff member is eager to get working, but the first day is an introduction day. I give them a tour of the offices and building, introduce them to important key staff members and those they will be working closely with and I always arrange that another staff member joins them during lunch. Connections are necessary on the first day as it is important that the staff work as a team.

The morning is spent with the new staff member getting to grips with where everything is along with the company policy and procedures manual and I then get them to sign that they have fully understood what they have read and are happy with the policies.

The second part of the day is geared towards health and safety in the workplace and the workplace regulations that we have set in stone. A staff member who ignores what we have taught them and takes unnecessary risks can leave me in serious trouble. All it takes is that staff member to injure themselves and I’m slapped with a claim so I’d rather take one afternoon and ensure that they are fully aware of the regulations. Again I get them to sign that they have fully understood what they have learned.

Moving Forward

I always give new staff a copy of the workplace regulations which they can refer back to when necessary. From the second day they have learned the lay of the land, met the other staff and are ready to start working.

It is important to revert back to the regulations often; a little refresher to all the staff during meetings which you hold once a month should be the way to ensure it remains in their mind. Ultimately this refresh and reminder reduces the risk of something going wrong in the workplace.

It is so important to ensure that all the staff in your company fully understands the workplace regulations to reduce accidents and problems in the future.

When it comes to health and safety procedures, it is the responsibility of the manager to ensure that employees are working in the safest environment possible to avoid accidents and injury. However, sometimes managers have been known to make mistakes.

Of course, managers are human and they are not totally flawless individuals. They are capable of making mistakes even on something as important as health and safety procedures. It is important that as a workplace leader, you are aware of these potential mistakes so that you can do your best to avoid them and create the safest working environment possible for your employees.

Are you guilty of making any of these errors when it comes to health and safety procedures?

Not Setting a Good Example

When you are trying to encourage your employees to follow health and safety procedures, it is crucial that you walk the talk and practice what you preach. Your employees will follow your actions rather than your words and if you are not upholding proper health and safety regulations you will be sending the message that they are not important. All of the slogans and posters will not make a difference if your employees see you disregarding the rules, so make sure that you are always following the correct health and safety procedures in the workplace.

Cutting Corners

It can be very tempting to cut corners sometimes when it comes to health and safety procedures, especially when doing the things the proper way works out to be more expensive and time consuming. However, it is never a good idea to compromise the safety of your employees just to get things done quicker or save a bit of money. If an accident occurs it could result in an injury that causes an expensive legal battle. Or even worse, the accident could result in loss of life, something that is priceless.

Providing Unsafe Equipment

Many health and safety incidents result from employees having to work with out of date, inadequate or damaged equipment. Perhaps you are trying to reduce costs by avoiding replacing equipment until totally necessary, but you could be putting your employees in danger.

It is important to make sure that your workers have the best and safest equipment that is required to do their job without risk of injury, so if your equipment needs replacing it should be done as soon as possible.

Having the Wrong Attitude

Remember, you are not following health and safety procedures to avoid legislation or to make an inspection, you are ensuring that your valuable employees are not in danger while they are doing their job. Think about their lives, their family and their community and how much impact a serious accident or fatality would have.

When managers see health and safety procedures as an annoyance that they must comply to, they might not take them seriously and tend to fall back on bad habits as soon as the inspector disappears. Never forget that it is the life and limb of real human beings that is on the line, not just passing an inspection.

As an employer you are responsible for the health and safety of your workers, so make sure that you make health and safety procedures a priority and avoid these common mistakes to create the safest working environment possible. An excellent health and safety training course which teaches the role and responsibilities of a responsible person in the workplace is the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

Are you guilty of making these common mistakes when it comes to health and safety procedures? These errors should be avoided to keep employees safe.

Managerial Health & Safety Qualifications

Failing to manage your OHS is never acceptable. If you are found to be putting your employees at risk from ill health or injury you will end up having the Health and Safety Executive on your backs. There are no excuses for failing to maintain a strong health and safety policy in your organisation. As soon as you decide to take on employers you really have to ensure you have the skills and the knowledge to follow the laws and protect those who come on board to work with you. Even if you are self-employed there are regulations to follow, it’s an area you cannot afford to ignore.

What Do I need to do?

Occupational health and safety involves many different elements. One of the Regulations is stated in the Health and Safety at Work Act and it says that all employers have to do everything that is reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of each employee. To do this you have to follow multiple guidelines and Regulations such as performing risk assessments, creating safe systems of work, offering first aid facilities and conducting fire risk assessments.

Is Your Workplace Really Safe?

You may think that your work activities and the premises are safe, but there are dangers found everywhere and these have to be managed. Even office work involves risks to health. Office workers can suffer from occupational stress, have injuries from working at a workstation or health problems caused by looking at a monitor all day. There are risks of items falling, slips and trips, fire risks and more. Although this type of work is a lot safer than construction it is still important to comply with legislation and do everything you can to keep each worker safe.

What Happens if You Fail to Manage Your OHS Effectively?

The Health and Safety Executive will prosecute any company or employer who they find to be in breach of the law. There are occasions where Notices will be handed out and these provide the employer time to make the necessary adjustments. However, in many cases the breaches will lead to prosecution and a court appearance. If you plead guilty or are found guilty by the judge you will be fined, have court costs to pay and may have other costs such as the fees for intervention. In the most serious cases a custodial sentence may be given.

Moral Duties

As an employer you would have to live with the fact that failing to meet health and safety laws led to one of your workers being injured or even killed. It’s simply not worth the risk to ignore your legal and moral duties. Financial issues aside you must think about the guilt you would feel knowing that an accident could have been avoided with some simple OHS management in place.

If you are concerned about the state of your health and safety and wish to learn more about your duties it is worth signing up for some training. There are many courses available, suitable for business owners, the self-employed as well as managers and supervisors. Why take risks when it is so easy to pick up the skills you need? It’s not a complicated business, providing you are aware of the legislation, are able to work with the guidelines and know how to implement health and safety procedures in your workplace you can enjoy providing an excellent and safe place to work to all of your employees.

Are you aware of the OHS legislation? Don’t risk lives or your business; learn the skills you need on a suitable occupational health and safety training course.

There are a number of industries that we know are dangerous. Some of the most dangerous industry sectors include working at a construction site, in an industrial kitchen or at a manufacturing plant, but what many people don’t know is that an office environment can also be a dangerous place to work.

We’ve seen a reduction in construction accidents of late and this is a good sign. However, we have seen the hospitality industry struggling with uneducated employees working machinery in the kitchen.

You wouldn’t think of an industrial kitchen as a dangerous working environment, but when you look at the knives, dough machines and other equipment, it is easy to see that without the right training, staff can sometimes become seriously injured.

Is Health and Safety Important In Your Workplace

The health and safety legislation is for all industries whether you sit in front of a computer on a daily basis or you climb scaffolding three or four floors high. Accidents can happen in any working environment and it is essential that all supervisors, managers, directors and owners are comfortable and knowledgeable about the risks and the regulations in place to offer staff a safer working environment.

If you are a manager or supervisor then you should review the risk assessment for the company on a regular basis, go through the accident book and see if the accidents mentioned have been covered in the assessment. This may sound trivial, but if you want to achieve a safer working environment and a happy and safe work compliment, then this is an essential step.

Health and Safety Training

It doesn’t matter whether you are a director of a large manufacturing plant or the head chef of an industrial kitchen, adequate training in the health and safety legislation can be beneficial to your entire business and how it operates.

Knowing and understanding the legislation will help you ensure that your staff are working in a safer environment, they are abiding by necessary rules that reduce accidents and that you are less likely to find an injury on site.

Take a kitchen for example: all head chefs should be knowledgeable and be trained on the health and safety in the workplace along with the food safety and hygiene requirements. Without these he or she is not only putting the kitchen staff at risk, but also the customers.

Training is an essential part of any business and going over the legislation during staff meetings can keep the safety fresh in the minds of the staff and help keep accidents at an absolute minimum.

We’ve already seen this year a reduction in accidents on construction sites. This is because the site managers have undergone extensive training on the health and safety legislation, risk assessments have been carried out and the workers have all had adequate health and safety training to reduce the risk of accidents.

The Follow Through

Once you have put a health and safety manual together for the business; that is not simply the job over. The health and safety legislation should be taught to every employee, the risk assessments should be revisited regularly and changes should be made on an as and when they are needed basis; this way you can rest assured that your workers have the safest working environment possible. What’s more you can by doing this, reduce the risk of ending up in serious financial trouble caused by a claim against you after someone injures themselves on the job.

The health and safety legislation has been put in place to ensure that every working environment has a reduce risk of accidents.

Popular Health and Safety Courses

Health and Safety at work is incredibly important, not only for legal reasons but also for the health and well-being of your employees. If you are in a managerial role, it is your responsibility to encourage and remind your employees to follow appropriate health and safety procedures. But what is the best way to ensure that this behaviour is encouraged in the workplace?

Here are a few ways that you can encourage safety at work among your employees and create a healthier, safer and happier working environment:

  • Communication is very important. Before commencing a job, make sure that you are very clear in expressing what needs to be done and how it should be carried out. This will avoid health and safety mistakes occurring from confusion or mixed messages.
  • Put up handy reminders in the form of signs and posters around the workplace, such as next to equipment or in certain areas. If employees are not sure about the safest policy, they can always refer to the poster for guidance.
  • Have frequent meetings about safety at work to discuss the specific health and safety aspects of your particular workplace. This is where you can let your employees know about any changes and give them pointers and guidelines.
  • Supply your employees with the right current and up to date equipment that they need to do their jobs. Many ‘safety at work’ issues are caused by employees working with old, damaged, outdated or insufficient equipment.
  • Be aware of potential hazards in the environment that you are working in. Before you start a job, look around carefully and perform a risk assessment to determine how to avoid these risks.
  • Encourage your employees to report any potential health and safety risks to you. If you are not approachable as a manager and your employees don’t feel comfortable reporting these issues to you then a potential serious problem could go unresolved for a long time until it finally causes an accident.
  • Make sure that your employees are all trained in current safety at work courses that are relevant to the jobs that they are doing. Give them the support, time off and funding necessary to ensure that they have this training and that it is kept up to date.
  • Of course, as a manager you should also keep your health and safety training up to date as well. If your safety qualification needs updating, book that course right away!
  • Ensure that your employees are wearing safe clothing and footwear while on the job at all times. If they are not wearing safe gear, provide them with an alternative or send them home to change.
  • Keep the workplace clean and well-maintained to avoid any dangers that result from messy and chaotic workplace environments.
  • Never take shortcuts. It might be tempting to do a job unsafely because it is much quicker and easier, but this is the leading cause of employee injury. The time that you save by ignoring safety procedures at work is not worth it if you cause a serious injury.

These are just a few things that you can do as an employer to encourage safety at work among your employees and to create a better, safer workplace environment for all of your staff.

Safety at work is very important and it is the responsibility of the employer to encourage safe working procedure among employees.

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Does your job require working at a computer? Millions of people in the UK work in offices and spend most of their 8 hour workday at a computer. Health and safety concerns for this type of work might not seem as obvious as the immediate dangers associated with labour and trade jobs, but they are still very important. Computer health and safety is crucial for avoiding strain injuries and other risks associated with this type of work.

So what do desk workers need to know about computer health and safety? Here are some important things to keep in mind:

Reducing Physical Strain

Most people assume that working at a computer does not require any physical strain, but staying in one position for the entire day can be very hard on your body. It is important to set up your computer work station so that you are in the most ergonomic position to avoid stress on your neck, lower back, shoulders, wrists and eyes.

Adjust your chair so that the screen is approximately 18-30 inches away from you, depending on what feels the most comfortable. Use a high quality office chair with a supportive back so that you can comfortable sit upright. If you need extra support for your lower back there are special pillows that you can buy for your chair. Your feet should touch the floor while you are working and you’re your wrists should wrest comfortably and not be overextended.

Remember that every person is different in height and stature, so a generic office work station should be adjusted to meet your own particular needs.

Plugging in

If you work in an office where many computers, printers, telephones and other equipment are plugged into the wall, you might be familiar with the sight of a chaotic tangle of wires and cords sticking out of an overloaded adaptor. However, not only does this create a situation that looks messy, it can also be extremely dangerous. Overloading a plug can result in sparks that could be a potential fire or shock hazard. Also, unplugging devices can be much more confusing and dangerous.

Therefore you should invest in a large power adaptor with enough plugs for all devices and label your plugs so that you know what device they belong to. Keep the cords from tangling and keep the area clean and organised.

Taking Breaks

Sitting in the same position at a desk for several hours on end is hard on the body and increases the risk of physical strain and eye problems. An important computer health and safety practice to remember is to take frequent breaks and step away from the computer. Take a walk around the office, do some stretches or work on another task for a while. This will help to prevent headaches, back ache, eye strain and other issues associated with extended computer use.

These are just a few important computer health and safety tips to keep in mind so that you can avoid injuries and health problems when working on a computer at your job.

Computer health and safety is very important as it can help to avoid eye strain, backache and other health issues, as well as fire hazards.

Learn the Health and Safety at Work Act and How to Apply it to Your Everyday Business

There are many Regulations that need to be followed by employers. As an employer you must be aware of the laws that affect you and getting to know the ins and outs of the Health and Safety at Work Act is vital. The health and Safety Act at Work is the primary act which is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The secondary legislation is also enforced by the HSE along with local authorities and they work together to ensure that expected standards are being followed. There are various acts so it is important to be aware of the ones that relate to your business.

Keep Up to Date with Health and Safety Training

One of the best ways to ensure you are following the necessary legislation is through general health and safety courses. You can find curses specific to your industry e.g. construction health and safety courses or environmental management and awareness training that will provide you with the basic knowledge regarding the Acts which relate to you. The courses do vary greatly. Some last for half a day and will give directors and business owners a good insight into what they need to know. Other courses vary in length form a couple of days to many months; it is down to you to pick the right one which you feel will provide you with the information that you need.

As an employer it is not enough to stop at your own training. You must ensure that your workers have been provided with free and suitable training too. You can pass on the management of your health and safety to managers and supervisors who are properly trained in performing the tasks. They will need to be aware of the health and safety acts and the methods that are used to keep employees and the public safe from harm.

Risk Assessments Play a Huge Role

One of the effective methods that are to be used in the management of health and safety is the use of risk assessments. You and your senior staff should know the purpose of and how to conduct a risk assessment, how to perform them, record the assessments and use them to implement and discover new and more effective ways of reducing the risks that are exposed.

Risk assessments must be performed by law. It is necessary to consider all actions of the job, who is affected by the job and the current methods that are in place to reduce the risks found in that specific job. From there the manager is able to decide if changes need to be made. The changes could include providing safety protective clothing, changing the materials used in the job, assigning more people and a supervisor to the task and providing further training. Whatever control measures are introduced must be implemented and every person affected needs to be aware of the risks and how they must perform their job correctly to remain safe.

Choose a Health and Safety Course that Teaches Risk Assessment

As risk assessments are required in the health and safety at work act you must ensure they are carried out at a satisfactory level. There are many excellent courses that will provide the training needed by you and your employees to ensure this job is done correctly. The courses are available all over the UK and at all times of the year, so there are no excuses if you fail to provide the training.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will prosecute any employer who fails to provide health and safety training or that fails to ensure risk assessments are carried out. In some circumstances the managers and supervisors may also be prosecuted. This involves a court appearance where a judge will hear both sides and make a judgement. If found guilty or you have no choice but to plead guilty you will be fined and could even be sent to prison.

Ensure you are aware of the health and safety act and legislation for your industry. Take health and safety training courses to improve your knowledge and avoid problems with the HSE.

Britain is one of the safest countries for workers in the world. There is a comprehensive set of Health and Safety laws and regulations in place that strive to protect workers from accidents and illnesses in the workplace.

  1. Complying with British safety standards can be a big responsibility for employers but the benefits are clear.
  2. Over the last 35 years improvements in Health and Safety standards in the UK has dramatically decreased instances of serious injury, illness and fatalities in a wide selection of industries.
  3. In this time the number of fatalities at work has fallen by as much as 82%.
  4. Working days lost through work-related illness or injury has also dropped significantly and in the last decade alone has fallen by 28%.
  5. These eye-opening figures show just how important British safety standards now are and how critical it is that businesses comply with relevant Health and Safety legislation.

Accident Investigation Training

What are British Safety Standards?

British safety standards cover a vast range of rules, regulations, laws and legislations. This can be a little overwhelming for employers. However not all of the many safety standards will apply to your individual business. A trained health and Safety officer will be able to advise which safety standards are applicable and how your business can comply with them.

Health and Safety doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you have a good health and safety policy in place it will be much easier for you to comply with the laws and maintain a safe and well-managed workplace for all your employees.

Your Health and Safety Policy

Setting up an effective health and safety policy is paramount for businesses of all sizes. This will help to ensure you are providing a safe and low risk working environment for all your employees. Also it is important to remember that if your business fails to comply with British safety standards then the directors and managers could be held legally responsible. This means for the protection of you and your employees you need to put your Health and Safety policy at the top of your priorities.

8 Points to consider when writing your health and safety policy

  1. If you have five or more employees in your business you will need to have a written Health and Safety policy. This does not have to cost you a lot of time and expense though. There are many excellent expert services available online that can help you create an effective policy for your business.
  2. The start of any health and safety policy will be the risk assessment. This is where you walk around your workplace and identify any potential hazards or risks that may cause harm to workers or visitors.
  3. Consider each hazard and the chance of risk associated with it (high or low). Concentrate your policy on those risks you deem to be more serious.
  4. Also ask employees what they consider to be risks or hazards around the workplace. As they work in the environment they may be able to point out risks you may not have noticed.
  5. Once you have identified risks and hazards you then need to put in place measures to control and limit them.
  6. For example you may identify a fall hazard on some steps. Controlling this hazard may involve improving the lighting in this area, fitting a handrail and highlighting each step with high visibility strips.
  7. Record all of your findings and measures in a written risk assessment. Make this easily available to your staff and your managers.
  8. If you feel that you need more help with creating your risk assessment meeting British safety standards then call in a professional to assist. For more on risk assessment visit our post how to conduct a risk assessment.

Improvements in British Safety Standards have helped to slash the number of fatalities and injuries in the workplace. Ensure you are complying with health and safety legislation now to protect your workforce and business.

UK Health and Safety Training

Some of the below UK health and safety training courses will introduce you to risk assessment and control measures and will help you in creating your companies health and safety policy:

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