The phrase ‘health and safety’ often brings to mind the image of a school inspector examining corridors meticulously for trip hazards. But there’s more to it than that; health and safety is there to protect workers from unsafe environments, such as the Sport’s Direct centre which required more than fifty ambulance visits in just two years.
What is health and safety exactly?
All workers, be they full-time, part-time or volunteer, have the right to work in an environment free from risks and hazards. Health and safety laws are the legal parameters which define what is and isn’t a risk or a hazard in a workplace environment. Legally, it’s the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the work environment is up to these legal requirements.
By ensuring that your employees are working in a safe environment, which is taking any and all precautions necessary to ensure their wellbeing, you’re giving your employees an environment in which they can flourish. If your employees don’t feel safe, or are not able to be healthy in their working environment, it’s highly likely that their quality of life will deteriorate, which will ultimately negatively affect business.
Safety is the first step on the road to happy employees, and as a recent survey noted, companies that have happy employees are on average likely to be at least 12% more productive than companies where employees are not happy.
Additionally, keeping your employees safe is your legal responsibility. Regularly training your staff on health and safety practices, as well as issues associated with it, is a key part of fulfilling this duty and ensuring that your work environment remains safe and constructive.
What does a health and safety training cover?
Health and safety training brings together both the employer and the employee, covering the essential facts to help you work more safely and contribute to the overall safety of your organisation. It also meets the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) 'Working Safely' standards, which are a key part of your legal obligations.
Furthermore, thanks to online options, you can now complete health and safety training at your own pace, meaning that you don’t have to disrupt your busy work routine.
Health and safety training is not only an investment that will help ensure the wellbeing of your staff - it also builds trust between employees and employers, enabling for a constructive and, ultimately, mutually beneficial environment.
If you’d like to learn more about health and safety, as well as the legal obligations of employers, we’ve got you covered!
Author bio
Keir McDonald MBE, EduCare CEO and Chairman
Keir McDonald MBE started EduCare thirty years ago with just a handful of talented people. At the time, he had little idea that his company’s learning programmes would end up teaching more than three million people about duty of care issues, including health and safety. In acknowledgement of his work and achievement in safeguarding children, Keir was honoured with an MBE for Services to Children in 2012.