It’s difficult to determine the most popular health and safety course in the UK, as it can vary depending on the industry and the specific needs of an organisation. However, some commonly required health and safety courses in the UK include:

Health and Safety in the Workplace

This IOSH Working Safely course covers the basics of health and safety at work.

First Aid

First aid courses teach individuals how to respond to and manage medical emergencies, including CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Manual Handling

This manual handing course teaches individuals how to safely lift and move objects in the workplace to prevent injury.

Working at Height

The CIEH Working at Height training online covers the risks and precautions associated with working at height, including the use of fall protection equipment.

It is important for individuals and organisations to choose a health and safety course that meets their specific needs and industry requirements.

Other Health and Safety Training Courses

• IOSH Working Safely
• IOSH Managing Safely
• SMSTS
• SSSTS
• CCNSG Safety Passport
• NEBOSH General Certificate

The Work at Height Regulations

The Working at Height subject covers a whole host of situations or scenarios. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6th April 2005 and apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. The regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others.
 

Always Try to Avoid Working at Height!

The first thing to remember is that it is important always to try to avoid working at height where possible. If you can find a way of doing the same job by avoiding it altogether then the working environment is a much safer place for the person doing the job.
 

Working with scaffolding or mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs)

One of the most well known working at height scenarios is working with scaffolding or mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs). Workers are constantly at risk and as a result scaffolding is one of the most dangerous areas on any site. Fall prevention equipment and correct training is paramount otherwise it may only be a matter of time until a serious accident happens.
 

PASMA

PASMA is the recognised authority for mobile access towers. The association enjoy a reputation amongst management and health and safety practitioners, who seek proof of competence for staff engaged in the assembly, use, inspection and dismantling of towers.

PASMA training courses can now be booked via our network of accredited/certified training providers. See below for more information:

• PASMA Towers for Users
• PASMA Low Level Access
• PASMA Combined Low Level Access & Towers for Users
• PASMA Towers on Stairs
• PASMA Cantilever Towers for Users
• PASMA Towers for Managers

IPAF

IPAF promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment worldwide. The certification is an internationally recognised qualification for use of powered access machinery.

Below is a list of IPAF training courses which can now be booked via our network of accredited/certified training providers:

• IPAF Operator Training: 3A & 3B Combined
• IPAF MEWPs for Managers
• IPAF Harness Use & Inspection

Ladder Association

The Ladder Association training scheme is the best, fastest way to cut through all of the workplace confusion around what is and isn’t allowed when working at height. Putting a person through a half-day Ladders and Stepladders for Users training course offers peace of mind that they will be able to work safely on ladders, and the LadderCard and certificate given on completion helps them prove it.

Below is a list of Ladder association training courses which can now be booked via our network of accredited/certified training providers:

• Ladders and Stepladders for Users
• Ladders and Stepladders Inspection
• Ladders and Stepladders Combined User & Inspection
• Ladders and Stepladders for Managers

Cost-effective Working at Height E-learning

If you’re looking for low-cost effective working at height e-learning for an individual or for a larger group, the below short course costs approximately £26.00 + VAT to £30.00 + VAT.

• CIEH Working at Heigh

Don’t Put Yourself or Your Employees at Risk

It’s important not to put yourself or your employees at risk as a result of not providing appropriate training and equipment. If an accident occurs as a result of working at height and you have failed to conduct a working at height risk assessment, provide appropriate working at height training and/or equipment then you have neglected your legal responsibilities as an employer.
 

Related Work at Height Content

• Working at heights; employers responsibilities
• Tips for staying safe while working at height
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Mobile tower access training
• Rope access training

Searching for health and safety courses on our website just got easier!

Simplify Search Using Learning Format Tabs

Simplify your search for health and safety courses by choosing your preferred Learning Format. Choosing your learning format first filters all Classroom, Online (Instructor-led), E-learning and Distance Learning courses by omitting those courses which are delivered via learning formats you don’t want.

Example 1

If you would like to study health and safety in ‘E-learning’ format, it’s simpler and more effective to omit all distance learning, classroom and instructor-led courses from your search. To do this click the ‘E-learning’ tab at the top of the search on our course search page (example below), this removes the non-required parameters such as Town/City, County and postcode. Choose a course title from the drop-down and click search.. it’s as simple as that!





Example 2

If you would like to study in the traditional ‘classroom’ format, it’s simpler and more effective to omit all distance learning, e-learning and online (instructor-led) courses from your search. To do this click the ‘Classroom’ tab at the top of the search on our course search (example below), this removes unwanted courses.

With classroom courses, you’re going to want to use additional search parameters e.g. ‘Town/City’ or ‘County’ or ‘Postcode & Radius’ so these are available on the classroom tab. Remember, you don’t have to use all of these parameters, you can choose just one or more if you prefer.

What Else is New?

Course Category Tabs on Homepage

Browse our entire course offering using the new ‘Category Tabs’, just look for the ‘What do you want to learn‘ section on our course search and click on a category tab!

Each tab contains the entire list of courses which fit in to the category e.g. Construction Health & Safety, General Health & Safety, First Aid Training and so on. Click on a course category tab and then a course title to view the description and overview. On the course description page at the top you can see which learning formats are available, continue your search and book your course.

Content Other Students Find Interesting

• CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme
• SMSTS
• SSSTS

The Benefits

A quality management system is a major benefit to an organisation, but what exactly are they and how do they work? Let’s take a look into quality management systems so that we can understand these systems and the benefits that they provide.

A quality management system is a system by which an organisation aims to cut down and eventually eliminate any non-conformance to a set of specifications. It also aims to achieve adherence to standards and customer expectations in the most cost effective and efficient manner. It is a collection of business processes that are focused on achieving quality objectives.

Measurable, Repeatable and Improving

Even if a company isn’t concerned with producing the most high quality world class product, it is still a primary concern to produce something of quality. This is why quality management systems are so important. The system itself should be measurable, repeatable and constantly improving. Also, it should be focused on the customer or the consumer of the good or service, ensuring that they are provided with the best value possible.

Quality Policy

Your business might already have a quality policy implemented or maybe gathering dust somewhere and not being used. However, a Quality Management System is much more complex than a policy and it will outline the aspirations that your organisation has to provide a high quality dedicated service.

The quality management system should help you to identify, manage, control and improve your core processes so that you can benefit your customers. Also, it should involve people at all levels of the organisation. A good quality management system will involve people across all levels of the organisation and everyone should contribute to the success of the organisation. All employees have a responsibility to adhere to quality. Also, a successful quality management system will approach things as processes rather than individual tasks – looking at the whole picture and how everything fits together.

How could a quality management system affect your business? Could you benefit from implementing this type of system in your organisation?

Reasons to Have a Quality Management System

What are the reasons why a company might want to have a quality management system? It turns out that there are a lot of advantages to this type of system:

• Adhering to a certain set of standards will help you to compete on a level playing field with bigger enterprises.
• The focus will be on continual improvement and your company will always be aiming to do better.
• When you have the valuable data afforded to you by a quality management system you will be able to make your decisions according to facts, as opposed to feelings, knee jerk responses or “gut instinct.” This information will help you to make wiser and more strategic decisions for your business.
• Standards will also help to open up the export markets for your products and services.
• Having a set of standards to adhere to will help you to discover and develop your best business practices.
• Standards will be a driving force in efficiency in your business operations. Having more efficient ways of working will save you a lot of resources, money and time over the years.
• Having high standards will add credibility to your company and instil confidence in your customers.
• You’ll be able to advertise that your products meet a certain set of standards, which will demonstrate to customers that your products are reliable and of high quality.
• You’ll be able to become a more consistent competitor in your marketplace.
• Standards are a great way to open new business opportunities and improve sales.
• Having a set of standards will give you the competitive edge.
• Standards will help to make your brand name internationally recognised.
• When you enjoy improved operational performance you will be able to cut errors and increase profits.
• When you have standards there will be a common language that you can use across an industry sector.
• Having a high level of standards will help your company to grow. You will broaden your business opportunities when you are able to demonstrate compliance to the system. With better customer service you will be able to win more high value customers.

These are just a few of the major reasons that your organisation might consider having a quality management system. These standards can greatly improve your operation and set you on a path toward a higher level of success. For more information read our post on what it means to be ISO 9001 certified.

ISO 9001 Certification

A great example is the ISO 9000 family of quality standards, which is likely the most widely implemented worldwide. ISO is the International Organisation for Standardisation and it has a membership of some 160 national standards bodies from countries all over the world. These standards make a major positive contribution to the world that we live in, by facilitating trade, disseminating advances in technology, spreading knowledge and sharing good management strategies.

The ISO standards are applied to a huge range of activity sectors, from mechanical engineering, to construction to agriculture to manufacturing to transport to medical devices and the environment.

One of the advantages of using a system such as this is that it is recognised worldwide. It has been proven to improve quality when it has been implemented and it is suitable for all organisations.

Also, the ISO standards make it easier to implement a quality management system even when you don’t have any experience or guidance. You will be able to ensure your clients that you have given your word and are being checked by a third party body.

ISO & Auditing Courses

• ISO Internal Auditor
• IEMA Foundation Course in Environmental Auditing

The ISO 9001 Quality Management System is an international standard that defines the requirements for establishing a system that will control and manage processes in order to better serve the customer. ISO refers to the International Organisation for Standardisation and it has a membership of some 160 bodies from countries all over the world.

ISO provides a wide range of businesses, governments and societies with practical tools for all three dimensions of development, environment, economic and social. The standards of ISO make a positive contribution to the world that we live in by speaking knowledge and technological advancements, facilitating trade and sharing good practices.

Over 1 Million Companies Certified

There are over one million companies in the world that are ISO 9001 registered, Envico is now one of them. In 2012 the standard celebrated its 25th anniversary. The companies that are certified by ISO 9001 represent a range of industries and fields – from huge companies to companies with only one person. These services benefit the customer and user in a lot of ways as well, because they are dependable and reliable, conforming to the requirements, maintainable and available when needed.

The ISO 9001 Quality Management System takes a systems approach to management, which means understanding what a management system is and how its various parts work together. It also means having a consistent way to manage problems and deal with processes, rather than having to be reactive and make it up as you go along.

Let’s take a look into the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and what it means to be registered.

What Does it Mean to be ISO 9001 Registered?

If you are an ISO certified organisation that means that you will have implemented Quality Management System requirements for all areas of your business, including people, facilities, services, training and equipment. When you are satisfied that your organisation is working within the guidelines of the system, you can call in an ISO 9001 Registration Body and they can conduct an audit.

The ISO 9001 Quality Management System requirements document contains approximately 30 pages and it is available from the national standards organisation in each country.

Stage 1 Audit

During your Stage 1 Audit the groundwork will be done and you will be ready for your Stage 1 Audit. The assessor will check to make sure that your written Quality Management Systems meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 Standard. They will take a close look at how your company is operating and highlight any areas in which you could potentially improve.

Stage 2 Audit

Once these changes have been made, your organisation will be ready for your Stage 2 Certification Assessment. The assessor will look carefully to ensure that you are working according to the requirements of the ISO 9001 Standard. You will need to have a documented Quality Management System, which will define who should record which information and what information is important to be recorded. It will also outline the responsibilities of employees, the lines of communication throughout the company, the actions that are required and how a level of continuity will be maintained as staff change.

In order to define your Quality Management System you will require input from all of the departments in the organisation. It is important to define who your customers are and identify any problem areas within the organisation so that you can rectify them. Before the certification body will be able to issue an official certification, the auditor will need to be fully and completely satisfied that the company that is being assessed has implemented the requirements. In addition, the organisation will be required to document any other procedures that are required for its effective operation. ISO doesn’t certificate the organisation itself, there are certification bodies that exist which will issue compliance certificates.

Compete With Larger Enterprises

Once you are registered you will be able to compete on a level playing field with larger enterprises – as your high quality standards will speak for you. Also, taking part in standards will ensure that your brand name is internationally recognised and it will be easier for you in the future to adapt to future international regulations.

Advantages of Being ISO 9001 Registered

There are a lot of advantages to being ISO 9001 registered and it will benefit your company in a lot of ways. This system is suitable for organisations of all sizes and you will save time and cost by adopting any of the efficient Quality Management Systems that will improve relationships with customers.

Here are some of the major advantages to being ISO 9001 Certified:

• When you are ISO 9001 registered your senior management team will have an efficient management process that will save money and resources.
• The standards will set out areas of responsibility across the organisation so that all employees know what they are responsible for.
• You will increase your market share and compete globally.
• You will be able to satisfy your customers by meeting their requirements.
• Often this registration is mandatory if you want to tender public sector work.
• The standards will highlight any deficiencies and help you to improve the processes of your business. You will be able to discover your best business practices.
• The system will also provide you with continuous assessment and improvement.
• Being registered will communicate a positive message about your company to both your staff and your customers.
• If you are a small to medium sized business, the standards will help you to compete on a level playing field with the bigger companies.
• You will have valuable information that will help you to make smart decisions about your business, rather than relying on intuition and guesses.

These are just a few of the many advantages of being ISO 9001 registered. This registration can have a very positive effect on your business.

ISO & Auditing Courses

• ISO Internal Auditor
• IEMA Foundation Course in Environmental Auditing

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When you work within the gas sector, or within any profession that involves the handling of gas and fuel, it is very important to be aware of the specific health and safety considerations. When it is handled correctly, gas can be very useful, and we can use it as power to perform many tasks. However, if it is not used properly, it can be very dangerous.

Control Hazards and Risks

In the UK, natural gas is distributed throughout a large network of buried pipes stretching all around the country, the distance totalling around 275,000 km. Due to the sheer scale of the gas sector within the UK and the number of workers involved, it is absolutely crucial to make sure that all hazards and risks are controlled. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) works together with the industry in order to achieve high standards of health and safety.

Reduce the Number of Injuries

Within the gas sector it is a top priority to reduce the number of injuries and dangerous occurrences related to the handling of gas in the workplace. The health and safety officials of the industry are dedicated to improving safety standards, co-operation, communication and leadership.

One of the most crucial aspects of this is the transparent reporting of safety performance, so that we can learn from all incidents and accident and improve future processes.

If you are working within the gas sector, how can you make sure that you are carrying out your workplace tasks as safely as possible? How can you ensure that you are protecting your health and that of those around you?

How Can You make Sure That You’ll be Safe and Protected?

If you are working in the gas sector, how can you make sure that you will be safe and protected? Here are some essential steps that you will need to take.

Be Vigilant

Many mistakes and serious accidents have occurred because employees are not aware of what is happening around them. A lapse in attention can cause you to make a simple mistake that can have serious consequences. If you are not paying close enough attention and you fail to follow a safety procedure correctly, this can result in a severe accident that can cause damage, injury and even death.

Make sure that you are always alert and aware while you are on the job. Come to work prepared and don’t cut corners or lose focus during the day.

Keep Equipment Functioning Well

This is a mature industry with a somewhat ageing infrastructure, so it is crucial to maintain the integrity of the equipment used in the workplace. The gas sector in the UK has appealed to the government to maintain stability and ensure strong investment in the industry, so that infrastructure can be kept to the best and safest possible standards. It is also very important to perform regular maintenance and safety checks on the equipment being used. Equipment might need to be repaired or replaced, so that it does not result in a failure or an accident.

Stay Up to Date

Another important factor in health and safety awareness is to be up to date on the most recent regulations and developments. You need to make sure that you are always learning as new regulations are developed frequently and updated information is released on how best to keep your workplace as safe as possible. Staying up to date on this will ensure that you are doing everything you can to create a safe environment.

Work Together

Health and Safety only functions well when everyone is part of a team that works together in harmony. When some employees are resisting the procedures that are set out, this makes it more likely for accidents and incidents to occur.

If you are in a position of leadership when it comes to health and safety in your industry, you are responsible for everyone. You will need to get everyone involved and create a culture of health and safety and a dedication to following the right procedures. Also, you should create an environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing health and safety issues and bringing them up with supervisors and managers. When this is the case in the work environment, issues will be resolved quickly, and potential risks can be avoided.

Receive the Correct Training

In order to be aware of the health and safety risks of the industry and understand how to implement safety measures, it is important to have the correct health and safety training. One of the best qualifications for these circumstances is the EUSR Safety Health Environment Awareness scheme. SHEA for short, it is a health, safety and environment awareness training course that is important for all aspects of the utilities sector.

This course is designed for anyone who works in the operational activities of the gas industry. It is suited for those who require access to both permanent and temporary sites, including all levels of management, supervisors and operatives.

Once you have received this qualification, it will last for five years – after which you will have to re-qualify with a refresher course.

The SHEA gas scheme includes 12 modules, seven of which are common to all utility industries and form the basis of health, safety and environmental law and practices. These include “Protecting You”, “Incident Procedures”, “You and the Law” and “Working Environment”. There are also five modules that cover information that is specific to the gas industry and includes working on network and above ground installations. These modules include “Working in the Highway”, “Gas Sector Health” and “Machinery and Equipment”. In order to complete the course, you must do all 12 modules.

Having this valuable qualification will enable you to work safely within the gas sector, so that you can carry out your work without being at risk for dangers and accidents.

These are just a few of the ways that you can work more safely in the gas sector. Accidents and injuries in the sector can be very serious and can cause injury and death, so keeping workers and the public safe should always be first priority.

What is a Construction Site Supervisor and what do they do?

In the construction industry, site managers are responsible for the day to day running of the construction project. Typically the site manager is employed by a contractor, Construction Company or a civil engineering firm, but they can also be the employee of the local authority – such as in the refurbishment of council owned properties.

This can be a very interesting and challenging job and it can pay quite well. If you are thinking of working in the construction industry, you might consider aiming for a construction site supervisor position.

If this career is your goal, what type of qualifications will you need in order to become a construction site supervisor?

How to Qualify as a Site Supervisor in the UK

There are several routes to qualify as a construction site supervisor in the UK. The main body is the Construction Industry and Training Board, known as the CITB. They work with the industry to encourage the understanding of health and safety and training in the workplace, which helps to create a fully qualified workforce that is professional and safe.

The support and funding provided by the CITB helps companies to improve their skills respond to challenges in the industry and recruit talent for their sector. CITB provides a qualification for site supervisors that is called the SSSTS – Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme.

Build UK has now made this site supervisor course and qualification a requirement for all supervisors who work on their sites. Not only is it essential according to Build UK, it will also be a very advantageous course for anyone who is looking to take on a supervisory role within the construction industry.

Of course, along with this training it will also help to have experience in the construction industry, references from at least one relevant employee and a good knowledge of how the construction site operates.

Site Supervisor Qualifications

The SSSTS course is designed for anyone who will be supervising a team of workers on a construction site. It teaches the vital information that those in such a position need to know, so that they can work safely with others on site. Also, it contains the important information that these supervisors need to know about the health, safety, moral and legal responsibility.

The site supervisor course has a number of aims and objectives, which include:

• Understanding the safety, health and environmental issues that are relevant to the work being carried out.
• Safely supervising activities on a construction site.
• Understanding the legal health and safety responsibilities that are relevant to the work activities.
• Identify potential issues and problem areas within the construction site.
• Use proactive and reactive monitoring to deal with hazards.
• Carry out risk assessments and understand the importance of method statements.
• Understand the way that the laws for health and safety are organised and structured.
• Gain the skills that are crucial for carrying out method statement briefs, site inductions, toolbox talk and much more.

The course lasts for two days and in order to pass, you must take a multiple choice examination. When you have successfully completed the course, you will be given the CITB site supervisor certificate. The certificate will last for five years and at that point you will need to take a refresher course in order to keep your qualification valid.

Site Supervisor or Site Manager Course – What is the Difference?

When you are booking your course it is important to understand the difference between the SSSTS course and the SMSTS course. These courses are similar in a lot of ways, so they are often confused. The SMSTS stands for “Site Managers Safety Training Scheme” and it is five days in length (rather than two days like the supervisor). It is designed for those who will be managing an entire construction site. The difference is that the site supervisor course is designed for those who are supervising a team of workers.

However, the supervisor course is not a pre-requisite for the longer and more involved site manager course. If you haven’t completed your training and you want to go on to complete the site manager course instead, this is possible and it can be a great way to move your career along.

Tips for Booking Your Site Supervisor Course

If you are considering taking this course so that you can become qualified as a construction site supervisor, here are some helpful tips:

1. Consider searching for your course online in order to save yourself time and money. Envico® training providers are available in different locations all over the country, so you can find the closest location, the best dates and the cheapest courses according to your needs. This will save you the time and cost of researching and calling many different providers.
2. You can choose the location where you want to take your course, so make sure that you choose one that is as close to your home as possible. This will allow you to minimise your cost and travel time, saving you even more.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions while you are learning to make sure that you understand the information being covered! Don’t just skip over it, as the information will become very important later when it comes to safety in the workplace.
4. Make sure that your course is accredited by the CITB. The CITB doesn’t directly deliver the course themselves; they acredit a number of training providers to deliver it according to their regulations. If you are booking a course with a training provider who is not accredited, your qualification could be not considered valid, so be aware.

These are just a few of the tips that you should keep in mind when you are booking your course to become a qualified site supervisor. This is a crucial qualification when pursuing a career as a construction site supervisor and it will help you to find the ideal job in this industry.

Supervisor Courses

• SSSTS
• SSSTS Refresher
• CCNSG Leading a Team Safely
• Temporary Works Supervisor
• NVQ Level 4 Construction Site Supervision – Building & CE
• New Roads and Street Works Act for Supervisors

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Are you considering a role as a health and safety officer? Working as a health and safety officer can be a very interesting, lucrative, challenging and rewarding career. You will have the ability to work in a range of different industries, helping to make sure that the employees are carrying out their work as safely as possible.

If you are considering a career as a health and safety officer, what steps do you need to take and what should you know first? Let’s take a look into how to become a health and safety officer and what the role involves.

What does a Health and Safety Officer do?

A health and safety officer or advisor is responsible for using their skills and knowledge to reduce accidents and injuries and prevent health problems in the workplace. It is a very important role, as your actions could potentially save the lives of your co-workers or prevent them from suffering serious injuries.

What does the job include? Depending on who your employer is, this job could cover a number of areas, including safe use of machinery, fire safety, control of hazardous substances and much more. The key tasks in the job include training employees on health and safety issues, writing reports, making inspections and carrying out risk assessments, advising on protective clothing, developing health and safety policies and procedures and much more. It is also your responsibility to keep up to date with changes in the law as they are always changing and updating.

Necessary Traits for a Health and Safety Officer

If you want to work as a health and safety officer, what are some of the traits and characteristics that you should have? Here are a few:

• Good communication skills – because you will need to communicate with employees about health and safety risks.
• Good Knowledge base – with the ability to research and use logic to work things out and apply them to real situations.
• An eye for detail – It will be up to you to ensure that the workplace is following all regulations, down to the last detail.
• Problem solving skills – Your job will involve a lot of problem solving, as you will need to figure out how to perform work tasks efficiently yet safely.
• Writing skills – You will need to be able to write well, so that you can put together reports.
• Organisation – The more organised the workplace is, the safer it will be. Being disorganised can lead to mistakes and forgetfulness, which are a big deal when your role involves such responsibility.

Working Hours and Conditions

If you are working as a health and safety officer, you will likely have regular working hours from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday. This will generally be the case, although there are some industries in which your hours might be more irregular. In some situations you might have to work shifts or be on call in case of accidents or emergencies, depending on your industry and employer.

Most of the time you will be based in an office; however you might also find yourself working in other environments, such as building sites, factories and offshore rigs. You might need to work outside, at heights or in small spaces. It also might be necessary to wear protective clothing, ear protectors and safety glasses.

Sometimes you will be working on your own especially when it comes to things like studying workplace safety regulations and writing reports. You will be working with others too of course, perhaps when hosting safety meetings, giving talks or working together with the staff on health and safety solutions.

Health & Safety Officer Qualifications and Training

What health and safety officer training do you need to take in order to become a health and safety officer? In order to enter this career, you could either study for health and safety qualifications while you are still working, or you could take a full time course before you start looking for work. Many health and safety advisors will enter the profession with a degree level qualification. It can also really help to have previous experience of construction, engineering, manufacturing or scientific work before you decide to take on this role.

In order to become qualified in health and safety, there are a number of health and safety officer courses that you can take.

One of the courses that you might want to consider adding to your resume is the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety course, this is an advanced health and safety course that follows on from the four day IOSH Managing Safely qualification.

The NEBOSH course covers a lot of skills that are very important for becoming a responsible person or health and safety officer.

This is just one of the many options out there for health and safety qualifications. If you really want to excel in your career as a health and safety officer, you will ensure that you are as qualified as possible. It is important to round out your training so that you are well-informed and highly skilled, setting yourself above others in your field. Also, it is crucial to keep your training updated throughout your career. Keep renewing your current qualifications and obtaining new ones whenever you have the opportunity. This will keep you informed of current developments and ensure that you always have cutting edge knowledge of health and safety in the workplace.

These are just a few important things that you should know about how to become a health and safety officer. This can be an excellent career which offers plenty of excitement and variety. Best of luck pursuing your career!

FAQ’s

What is a Health & Safety Officer?

Health and Safety Officers are individuals who are responsible for ensuring a business is meeting its health and safety obligations and responsibilities. Health and safety officers ensure that the organisation they are employed by follows health and safety regulations to provide a safe workplace. H&S officers help to prevent injuries, accidents and other health problems. They are also known as health and safety advisers or safety officers.

How long does it take to become a Health & Safety Officer?

There is not a specific period of time that it takes to become a health and safety officer. You do not need a degree, although you will need some qualifications specific to the occupational health and safety industry. Depending on what level of responsibility and advising you wish to take on, it can take somewhere between 1-5 years.

How much do Health & Safety Officers earn?

Starting salaries for health and safety officers and advisers are usually in the region of £24,000 to £32,000. The role of senior health and safety officer and advisers attracts a salary of around £40,000 to £55,000. Highly experienced advisers, such as head of health and safety, can earn £70,000 to £80,000.

Other Health and Safety Management Courses

• SMSTS – Site Management Safety Training Scheme
• SSSTS – Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme
• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety
• NEBOSH Health & Safety Management for Construction
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Conducting risk assessments are very important. It will protect your workers and your business and ensures that you are complying with the law. In order to keep your employees safe, it is crucial that you have the right training and that you know how to carry out a complete risk assessment.

So what exactly is a risk assessment and how do you complete one? Let’s take a look at this very important element of workplace health and safety.

What is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a very thorough examination of a job, process or task within the workplace, in order to determine what potential risks might occur within that environment. Its intention is to discover any potential causes of harm, so that this harm can be avoided. Risk assessments need to be carried out in order to satisfy the requirements of legislation, but also to ensure the Health and Safety of all workplace employees. It is a vital element of health and safety in the workplace today and it is required under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974.

Why is Risk Assessment Important?

One of the main reasons why it is crucial to carry out a risk assessment in your business is because it is required by law. The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 states that all employers of five or more employees must conduct a risk assessment and must have a written statement of their health and safety policy.

However, not only is a risk assessment legally required for your business, it is also a smart move for success. It will keep your employees safer and it will reduce your business insurance costs on claims and premiums. Also, conducting a risk assessment and paying attention to health and safety in the workplace will bring down your employee absences and lost production time, as well as reducing machinery downtime. It also prevents employees taking legal action if they have suffered an accident in the workplace that becomes the businesses fault and your responsibility. A focus on health and safety has also been shown to improve the productivity and motivation of employees as they will feel safer.

How to Conduct a Risk Assessment

There are no fixed rules to how a risk assessment should be carried out, but there are some principles that should be followed, such as:

Identify the Hazards

The first step is to do a thorough assessment of your workplace and identify the potential hazards. Look for anything that could have the potential to cause harm, such as an uneven floor, an unsecured machine or an unventilated workplace that stores chemicals. You can spot these hazards by walking around the workplace, as well as by asking your employees to share any potential dangers they have noticed.

Don’t forget about potential risks that might take place outside of normal working hours, such as cleaning or waste compacting.

Who Might be Harmed?

When you have identified the potential hazards, you will need to figure out who might be harmed by them. Would this hazard hurt your employees or members of the public? Is there anyone in your workplace that is especially vulnerable to hazards, such as someone who is blind or someone who works with hazardous chemicals? Who is most at risk and how can you best protect them from potential harm?

Decide How to Control the Risks

After you know what the risks are and who might be harmed by them, you can figure out what to do in order to protect people from harm. Can you remove the hazard completely? If not, can you control the risk so that it is unlikely that anyone will be injured? Is there personal protective equipment that your employees could be wearing that would eliminate the risk? Is it possible to do things in a different manner so that the danger is reduced or removed?

Keep Good Records

If you are in a workplace with more than 5 employees you are legally required to write down the findings of your health and safety risk assessment. Make good notes on what hazards you have identified, how you planned to eliminate these risks and what took place afterwards. These records are very important, because they will allow you to keep track of what you have done. Also, they will provide helpful documentation should a court case of employee accident compensation ever arise.

Review and Update

Risk assessments are not something that you can just do once and then forget about. It is necessary to review your risk assessment regularly and update it – because workplaces tend to change over time and new risks can be introduced.

Make sure that all changes are also recorded and that all employees are informed of the new health and safety procedures.

Risk Assessment Training Will Teach You How

One of the best ways to learn how to properly perform a risk assessment is to take the IOSH Managing Safely training course. If you’re not a health and safety professional and you have responsibilities for your company’s health and safety you may also want to consider the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety, alternatively read our post on health and safety officer courses or how to become a health and safety officer. During one of these courses you will learn a number of important tasks, including how to conduct a risk assessment within your work place.

There must be someone in your workplace who has attended risk assessment training, so that they will be competent and able to carry out this important task.

There are many different courses available, so it is important to choose the course that is best suited to your particular position and workplace environment. For example, three of the well-respected courses are listed below and you will learn how to conduct a risk assessment on all any them:

• IOSH Managing Safely
• NEBOSH General Certificate
• NEBOSH Construction Certificate
• SMSTS
• SSSTS

No matter what training program you take, knowing how to conduct a risk assessment is one of the most important things that you will need to know. Make sure that it is done right, so that you can keep your employees safe from the hazards of the workplace.

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Did you know that construction is the most dangerous land-based work sector in all of Europe? Almost 13 workers in every 100,000 will be involved in a fatal accident while working on a construction site. Construction workers are at risk for a huge number of dangers while they are performing their work, many of which can be serious or fatal.

The issue with construction sites is not that the risks and dangers are unknown. The danger is more that these risks are difficult to control, as the work environment is always changing.

Let’s take a look at what some of the major risks are for construction workers and how employers can ensure that these workers are safe.

What Are the Major Hazards to Construction Workers?

What are some of the biggest safety hazards to construction workers? Here are a few of the major issues:

• Electrocution – Construction workers working around electricity are at risk of shock and electrocution.
• Falls from Height – Many accidents have occurred from construction workers falling from a height, causing serious injury and even death.
• Being Struck by Falling Objects – This is a risk for employees, as well as other members of the public walking past construction sites.
• Vehicles and Traffic Management – There are risks for employees when they are operating vehicles on the job, as well as working around traffic.
• Hazardous Materials – Dangerous substances such as asbestos, chemicals and other hazards can be a risk in the workplace.
• Noise and Vibration – The loud noises and the vibration of the construction equipment can cause permanent long term damage to hearing and the musculoskeletal system.

These are just a few of the serious risks that are prevalent in the construction site environment. It is important to be aware of these risks so that they can be managed and prevented.

Conducting Risk Assessments

In order to become aware of hazards so that they can be prevented before an accident occurs, it is necessary to know how to conduct a risk assessment in the workplace. A risk assessment is a very thorough examination of the workplace or project and is looking for any potential causes of harm.

Once these risks have been identified, you can come up with a plan for how to reduce, eliminate or avoid the danger all together. The findings of this risk assessment and the solutions should be recorded and explained to everyone else too, especially if your workplace has over five employees as this is legally required.

Promoting a Culture of Health and Safety

It is also very important to make sure that everyone in your workplace is on board with a commitment to health and safety. It does no good to have safe working procedures if your employees don’t listen to them and cut corners to get around them.

To ensure that your employees are invested in health and safety, there should be a positive culture around it that rewards them for conducting their job in a safe way. Consider offering incentives that reward a commitment to health and safety. Also, make sure that your targets and timelines are realistic – many employees resort to doing things unsafely when they think that they need to cut corners to finish something faster.

It is also crucial to make sure that your employees feel like they can approach you at any time about health and safety issues. Sometimes employees don’t feel comfortable bringing up issues with their employer, so these risks go unmanaged. Keep an open door policy and reward your employees for contributing to the health and safety operations of the business whenever possible. For more information about this subject read our post how to promote a positive health and safety culture and how and when to talk to workers about health and safety.

Ensure Equipment and Tools Are Functioning Well

There has been a tragic amount of workplace accidents that have occurred due to malfunctioning equipment and tools, often due to a lack of maintenance and testing. If your employees work with machinery or tools, it is essential that this equipment is maintained and checked on a regular basis.

Perform maintenance checks on your equipment on a regular basis and if anything is functioning incorrectly make sure that it is replaced or maintained immediately. If your equipment has started to age, invest in new equipment before it causes an accident!

The same is true for any personal protective equipment that your employees wear. Having ear protectors, eye shields, gloves and other protective wear is very important for keeping them safe, but if that protective gear starts to wear or break down it will not be doing its job.

Keep Up to Date on Health and Safety Training

It is crucial to ensure that you are up to date with your health and safety training, so that you will be best informed on how to protect your employees from hazards. There are many great health and safety training courses out there that will give you the skills and information that you need, so make sure that you choose a course that is relevant to the particular type of construction site you will be working on.

On all construction sites, employers must only employ workers who are able to provide evidence that they have training and experience in particular equipment, machinery and tools. If they fail to comply with these requirements, they can be subject to fines.

One of the excellent courses is the one day site safety plus health and safety awareness course. It is design for those who are in the civil engineering or construction industry and it helps them to understand the potential hazards of the workplace. After completing this course, employees could progress to the SSSTS – Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme, alternatively the SMSTS course – Site Management Safety Training Scheme which are designed for anyone who is supervising or managing a team of employees.

With the right health and safety training for your industry, you will be able to ensure that you have all the information you need to protect the health of your employees. Also, when your employees are correctly trained they will be able to carry out the tasks that you ask of them in a safe way.

These are just a few of the ways that you can ensure that your site workers are safe at the construction site you are managing.

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