Risk awareness training – upskill your staff and keep them safe

Newcomers to any workplace are in a risky position – statistics show they are as likely to have an accident in the first six months as they are in the WHOLE rest of their lives. 

It’s not that your workplace is particularly dangerous (we hope). The Health and Safety Executive says anyone new is facing unfamiliar risks from the job they are doing, and also from their surroundings.

That can have terrible consequences: in one recent case, a waste firm was fined £250,000 when a man on his first day in the job suffered serious leg injuries. He was run over by a shovel loader while handpicking waste without having had a proper risk assessment.

Why training is not just for newcomers

It’s obviously crucial for newcomers to your workplace to have the proper health and safety training, which protects them from potential danger and you from the legal consequences.

But your training responsibilities as an employer don’t stop there. It’s up to you to keep the people working on your premises aware of general risks with regular training and updates, so they can spot any situations and report them so they can be resolved before they cause a problem.

One good example is slips and trips. Everyone can be made aware of the dangers posed by wet entrance floors or trailing cables, and what they should do about it. 

Responsible team members

In the case just mentioned, your premises should have a clear policy of actions that people can take, and a responsible team member or members who can fix the situation quickly. It can be as simple as a warning sign and a mop…

Some areas of risk, though, require more specialist training. Legionella safety, for example, requires control measures including monthly monitoring of your water supply, and you need not only one fully-trained responsible member of staff but also a deputy who can take over if they are off or on holiday.

Other areas including disability access and fire risk require detailed knowledge if you are to remain legally compliant and be sure that everyone using your premises is fully protected.

How do you know where training is needed?

Health and safety legislation evolves all the time, and it can seem difficult to know where your responsibilities lie, and who needs to be trained.

Chris Hickman, CEO of Bison Assist, says: “Regulation can seem like a minefield, so it’s always worth getting professional advice – and it certainly pays off in the long run.

“At Bison, our risk assessment professionals not only carry out the necessary checks you need to stay up to date, but they also advise on your requirements and responsibilities for training your staff.

“As well as promoting safety, we also believe that offering your staff the opportunity to take part in training is a great way to promote personal development and skills.”

How do you make time for training?

Chris says: “We get it – your medical practice, or care home, or workplace is an incredibly busy place every day of every week, and your people don’t have much time available.

“But this couldn’t be more important. And that’s why our Bison Assist experts have designed a range of courses that can be  undertaken online when it’s convenient for your staff; they’re available 24/7.”

The courses are uniquely tailored to meet legal requirements, and explain:

1. who’s legally responsible for specific safety risks in the workplace
2. how to identify risks
3. what a risk assessment entails
4. how risks are minimised after an assessment has taken place.

What courses can your staff access?

The Bison training portfolio includes eLearning courses on:

• Water safety
• Fire awareness
• Hygiene
• Medicine
• Safeguarding
• Manual handling
• Data protection
• Disability access.

Chris says: “After many years in the risk mitigation business, and working with hundreds of companies across the UK, we’ve identified the highest areas of need and created courses to fit the bill. 

“We also stay up to date with the latest legislation so our clients don’t have to, and make sure our courses constantly evolve constantly. Alongside using our risk assessment services, we think it’s a great way to ensure the protection of your team, your visitors and your clients.”

Discover more about Bison online training

Offer: Grab a risk assessment discount

Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash