Health and Safety at Work - Advice and Training

Description

 

All employers and the Self-employed should appoint/have access to, one or more competent persons to advise and assist them in putting in place the measures needed to comply with legal duties placed on them in relation to health and safety and fire safety.

All employers must consider the capabilities of their employees and provide adequate, understandable training with regards to health and safety.

 

Eligibilty

 

All employers the self-employed and members of the public

 

Procedure

 

Advice

Employers and the self employed must comply with the duties placed on them under health and safety and fire legislation. To assist them they should have access to "competent person" (someone with the necessary knowledge, experience, training, qualifications and other qualities) to provide advice on these matters. This person should preferably be someone who is employed within the organisation.

Where the advice is obtained from outside the organisation (a consultant) every effort must be made to ensure that the person engaged has the relevant knowledge etc to provide advice on the business in question.

Advice on workplace health and safety is available from Regulatory Services, Health and Safety Team which includes a Healthy Workplace Adviser whose duties include advising small businesses on health and safety.

Training

Employers must provide training to employees to ensure that they can carry out their duties safely. This training should include health and safety matters and their duties. This will enable them to work safely and also to contribute and co-operate with their employers to help them meet their legal duties.

The training given can be work related and also more formal health and safety courses.

Training on work activities should be given on;

• Starting employment - Induction Training
• Job specific
• Being transferred or given new responsibilities
• On introduction of new technology or working practices

The training should be repeated periodically, either at suitable intervals or when changes in conditions or activities prompt it. The training should also be adapted to take into account new or changed risks to the health and safety of employees or others affected. Any training must be given during normal working hours

Internal and formal health and safety training courses can be delivered internally or by external training organisations using suitably competent trainers.

Regulatory Services Health and Safety Team provide a range of health and safety courses which are locally or nationally certified, details of which are avialable on the related link.

 

Helplines

 

Regulatory Services, Health and Safety Team: 01226 773860

Regulatory Services, Healthy Workplace Adviser 01226 773861

 

Charges/Fees

 

Fees for external consultants vary widely

Fees for training courses can vary widely depending on duration, content etc.

Please contact us on the Regulatory Services Helpline for further details

 

Methods of Payment

 

Where applicable please consult the individual organisation

 

Opening times/locations

 

Opening times and location map, click link for further information.

 

How the customer can help

 

Advice

Large organisations should make sure that they either appoint someone, preferably from within the company, to provide them with advice relating to compliance with health and safety legislation. This person should have the relevant knowledge, experience and qualifications to allow them to carry out their duties.

To ensure they can carry out this role effectively they will require some formal training. Appropriate qualifications are from the following organisations

National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) - General Certificate or National Diploma

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) - There are varying grades of membership dependant on the level of qualification.

International Institute of Risk and Safety Managers (IIRSM)

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)

For further detail see website on related links

Smaller businesses using external consultants should check the level of qualification of the person who's services they are engaging.

 

Training

All employers and the self-employed should make sure that they and their employees receive training on how to carry out their duties which are relevant to the level of responsibilty and risk i.e. Managers/Supervisors will require a different level of training/knowledge to a shop floor worker to allow them to carry out their duties effectively.

External training leading to increased knowledge and in some cases nationally recognised qualifications are available. By allowing your employees to take part in such training their level of knowledge will be increased and they will be able to contribute to ensuring the effective management of health and safety in the workplace. Examples of qualifications and training courses available can be found on the related links on the right hand side (see PID422, Health and Safety Training Courses)

The Healthy Workplace Adviser provides training on behalf of Regulatory Services (see Helplines).

 

 

Application form references

 

Application forms for training courses are available from Regulatory Services - see Helplines

 

Leaflets

 

Advice and assistance

• Need Advice on Health and Safety? Guidance for employers on when and how to get advice on health and safety, INDG322 (free leaflet)

Training

• Health and safety training - What you need to know INDG345 (free leaflet)

 

Distribution points

 

Leaflets are available from our offices (see Opening Times/Locations)

 

Or from HSE:

HSE Books,
PO Box 1999,
Sudbury,
Suffolk,
CO10 2WA.

01787 881165 or Health and Safety Executive link to free leaflets and download

Health and Safety Executive, Edgar Allen House, 241 Glossop Road, Sheffield. 0114 2912300

 

Legislation

 

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

 

Response Times/Next steps

 

Requests for advice or to discuss training will be responded to within 5 working days

 

Owner Officer contact details

 

Unit Manager, Food Hygiene/Health and Safety

3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

You can also complete our online form to request information on Health and Safety at Work

 

Frequently asked questions

 

 

Related Links:

• Health and Safety Executive
• HSE Books
• HSE Free leaflets
• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
• National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
• Health and Safety Training Courses

Last modified on 16/9/2008