In the fast-paced landscape of modern workplaces, health and safety remains a core foundational value vital for all businesses, whether large corporations or smaller, self-run ventures. Central to ensuring that we arrive at work each morning, carry out our daily tasks, and return home safely to our families is the training we receive.
Put simply, training involves guiding individuals to learn new skills, sharing crucial knowledge on what actions to take or (often as important) to avoid, and providing essential information to complete tasks efficiently. It’s important to recognise that training goes beyond conventional classroom settings and obtaining certificates; it encompasses a range of learning approaches and knowledge delivery methods aimed at providing personnel with clear guidance on performing their work tasks safely.
Legal obligation
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the main piece of legislation governing health and safety in Ireland, employers and employees have duties concerning training in the workplace.
Competent persons
Under the 2005 Act, there is an emphasis placed on the concept of ‘competent persons’. The legislation requires that employers appoint one or more competent persons to aid them in meeting their legal obligations in maintaining safety and welfare in the workplace. The term is defined as someone who ‘possesses sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken’.
Employer
Employers must ensure their employees’ safety, health and welfare at work, as far as reasonably practicable.
To prevent workplace injuries and ill-health, with regard to training the employer must:
- Provide instruction and training to employees on health and safety matters in a manner they are likely to understand.
- Training must be adapted to take account of new or changed risks in the workplace.
- Training must be provided:
- on recruitment
- when an employee is transferred or tasks change
- on the introduction of new or changed work equipment or work systems
- on the introduction of new technology
Employee
As an employee, your duties at work include: taking reasonable care to protect the health and safety of yourself and other people in the workplace.
Employees can fulfil this duty by attending and participating in any health and safety training sessions provided by their employer.
Benefits of Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) training
Health and safety training in the workplace not only reduces accidents and enhances well-being but also offers additional benefits for employers and employees.
Employer benefits
- Reputation enhancement: Delivering effective health and safety training enables employees to perform their duties efficiently while minimising risks to themselves and their peers. This not only enhances the employer’s reputation but also demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.
- Cost savings: Long-term benefits of effective health and safety training include reduced costs related to preventable accidents. By prioritizing training, businesses can avoid legal fees, compensation payouts, and potential court fines. Additionally, decreased absenteeism boosts productivity and leads to cost savings over time.
Employee benefits
- Safety assurance: Adequately trained employees are better equipped to recognise and mitigate hazards associated with their work, reducing the likelihood of accidents for themselves and their colleagues. They serve as role models for health and safety standards within the organisation amongst their peers.
- Confidence: Another benefit of H&S training is that it tends to boost employee morale and confidence when it comes to completing their work. Especially for our younger workforce, suitable training is often received with open arms and allows them to take more pride in what they are working on.
Conclusion
Training in a modern, evolving world remains a crucial cornerstone of any effective Health and Safety Management System. All training should aim to make both the employer and employee aware of specific risks relating to certain work-tasks and teach them how to deal with these risks competently and confidently.
At MKO, our dedicated Health and Safety team has extensive experience and expertise in designing and delivering impactful health and safety training. We prioritise flexibility in our training delivery to ensure that our offerings align precisely with each client’s unique needs—a critical aspect of any successful training program.
Check out a list of some of the training our team at MKO can provide you with.:
- Induction Training (including online induction development)
- Manual Handling Training
- Work at Height Training
- Fire Warden Training
- Abrasive Wheels Training
- Safety Statement and Risk Assessment Training
- First Aid Training
- DSE Assessments
- Bespoke training development
We also engage with several specialist training partners who can provide all your training requirements as you need them.