It’s all about the people

Posted on October 15, 2024

As I have discussed many times before, good health and safety management means more than just documentation and form filling. There are legal hoops to jump through like risk assessments – which are obviously part of the process – as well as regular reviews, but health and safety is all about people. As well as effective leadership and staff involvement, it’s about common sense and practical measures that ensure safe workplaces and everyone’s safety.

Training is the most people-focused part of establishing your business’s health and safety basics from the very start and it’s of utmost importance in any workplace or environment. It plays a critical role in protecting the well-being of employees, preventing accidents, and maintaining a safe working environment.

Everyone who works for you needs to know how to work safely and without risk to their health. This includes contractors and self-employed people. Your staff need clear instructions and information, as well as adequate training and supervision – that includes employees with particular training needs like new starters and job changers and health and safety representatives.

Deciding what training and information is needed

How much training depends on the type of business. Simple information or instructions are usually adequate for low-risk businesses, like office-based work, but it increases in complexity as the risk increases, like on construction sites.

In all cases though, it’s important to involve staff to make sure everyone has the right amount of information on hazards, risks, the measures in place (which are kept up to date) and emergency procedures. Asking staff if the training is effective and relevant and easy to understand and that they know what is expected of them is always good policy.

There are external trainers who could help, like Courtley Health and Safety of course, but you can often do effective in-house training. Remember too, staff will need extra training if you install new equipment or your working practices change.

What I have found over the years is that people are happier and more confident in the workplace if they have been included in the whole process and that they feel their voice is heard and can raise concerns when needed.

Competent person(s)

Often a way to do this is by appointing a ‘competent person’, which as an employer is a legal duty.

They should have the skills, knowledge and experience to be able to recognise hazards in the workplace and help to put sensible control measures in place to protect colleagues and others from harm. This person doesn’t need to have formal qualifications by law or to have formal training, although obviously it can help. They could be the business owner, one or more of the staff or an external consultant, or even all three.

Where Courtley Health and Safety is often called upon is when a business or organisation either doesn’t have the in-house competence to manage health and safety or if it’s in a large, or complex or high risk industry. However, this doesn’t mean the employer hands over their legal duties in managing their workplace health and safety.

First aid in work

What a skill to have. I encourage everyone to have some basic first aid knowledge, it can literally be the difference between life and death. Happily, the first aider in the workplace is now common place because its incumbent on employers to ensure ‘adequate and appropriate’ first aid arrangements are in place – depending on the nature of the work and where it’s carried out.

It means businesses must have at least one appointed person, with or without formal training, in charge of first aid arrangements, including looking after the essential first aid kit, any equipment, facilities and calling the emergency services. There must always be someone available whenever people are at work. When you have assessed what your first aid training needs might be, decide if you need someone trained in first aid; what’s an adequate and appropriate level of training; how many people you train; and schedule in training dates and refresher courses.

The first aid kit

The contents of a first aid kit should be based on an assessment. As a guide, where work activities are low risk, as a minimum a first aid kit might contain a leaflet with general guidance on first aid, plasters, bandages, eye pads, safety pins, disposable gloves, scissors, antiseptic cream and tape. The rule of thumb is to check it contains what you’ve identified in your needs assessment. It’s important to ensure that items are replaced when necessary and expiry dates are observed. For non-sterile
items without dates, you should check that they are still fit for purpose.

There will be more on first aid in a future blog.

As ever if you need any advice, call Courtley Health and Safety today on 0151 545 0497.