Training is an important part of an employee’s development in the workplace. It is important that employees know the companies procedures and are aware of what to do should there be an emergency.
Article 21 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states:
21 (1) The responsible person must ensure that the employees are provided with adequate safety training –
(a)at the time when they are first employed; and
(b)on their being exposed to new or increased risks because of—
(i)their being transferred or given a change of responsibilities within the responsible person’s undertaking;
(ii)the introduction of new work equipment into, or a change respecting work equipment already in use within, the responsible person’s undertaking;
(iii)the introduction of new technology into the responsible person’s undertaking; or
(iv)the introduction of a new system of work into, or a change respecting a system of work already in use within, the responsible person’s undertaking.
(2) The training referred to in paragraph (1) must—
(a)include suitable and sufficient instruction and training on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in order to safeguard himself and other relevant persons on the premises;
(b)be repeated periodically where appropriate;
(c)be adapted to take account of any new or changed risks to the safety of the employees concerned;
(d)be provided in a manner appropriate to the risk identified by the risk assessment; and
(e)take place during working hours.
If you require fire training, please contact us for a quotation.
Walker Health and Safety Services
A blatant disregard of ladder checks will highly increase the chances of fatal falls, prosecution and hefty fines. Make sure you carry out these vital checks.
Contact us if you require assistance.
Each year, 40% of all accidents reported to the HSE are attributed to slips, trips and falls and cost employers around £512 million in lost production. They are also responsible for 50% of all reported injuries to members of the public in workplaces. This short guide gives tips on how to reduce these statistics and what you can do to prevent slips and trips in your workplace.
There are many factors that contribute to slips, trips and falls in your workplace, according to the HSE…
To tackle these risks employers should focus on :
Contamination (e.g. Oil and dust)
Contamination can occur through spills, leaks or from cleaning activities (e.g. wet floors). You can look at ways to reduce the risk by reviewing current work practices and putting measures in place to ensure access to these areas are restricted.
If it is not possible to avoid contamination, other factors could be altered – for instance the type of flooring, cleaning method/routine or type of footwear worn.
Flooring
The floor in a workplace should be suitable for the type of work activity taking place on it. If a floor is slippery, the causes should be assessed – for example, does the floor need to be chemically treated? Are appropriate cleaning materials and methods being used?
Footwear
HSE says that choosing the right slip-resistant footwear for workers can be tricky and the final choice may have to be a compromise based on a range of factors – e.g. durability, comfort and other safety features. It advises seeking the supplier’s advice, asking for trial pairs to try and ensuring any trial involves a representative sample of the workforce and lasts long enough to produce meaningful results.
Environment
This could include: lighting (could create glare on a shiny floor or inadequate lighting could stop people seeing hazards); noise, which could distract people from hazards; weather (rainwater, ice, snow, frost); humidity; and condensation.
Human factors
How people act and behave in their work environment – for instance, dealing with spillages, rushing around, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and so on.
Housekeeping
There should be no trailing wires or other obstructions, an effective cleaning regime and adequate storage facilities and rubbish bins to avoid trips.
Design and maintenance
Employers need to ensure that flooring is fitted correctly and properly maintained and that walkways are located correctly, available for use, wide enough and level. Stairs should be suitable, with usable handrails available and risers consistent. Markings can be used to indicate changes in level.
Should you require further information, please contact us.
How would you react in an emergency? Would you feel confident carrying out first aid or possibly using a defibrillator?
Every year in the UK, thousands of people die or are seriously injured in accidents. Many of these deaths could be prevented if first aid is given before emergency services arrive. What would you do?
If someone is injured in an accident at work or in everyday life:
Would you like to know how to deal with the following in an emergency:-
There is currently no legal obligation to ensure an AED is available in the workplace. Without common law making units mandatory, workplaces may feel reluctant to invest in an AED. However, there is good reason to consider a purchase if you have not already. Typically these units retail for around £1000, depending on the make, manufacturer and accessories included. If you have multiple workplace sites this can be a significant cost.
But you can’t put a price on a life.
If you would like to learn the basics or train to a higher standard in first aid, contact us.
Top 10 Higher Risk Activities
The HSE has issued a list of specific activities in defined sectors, recognised as being potentially higher risk. These are:
** Some of the subjects will not be applicable to your business.
The HSE has advised LA Inspectors that proactive inspection should be used only for the activities on this list or where there is intelligence that risks are not being effectively managed. The Inspector must explain to you why you are being inspected and if you operate in a low-risk sector and have been unreasonably subject to a proactive health and safety inspection, contact us.
