Health and Safety Awareness Course

We will begin by describing Health and Safety. It's a term used to describe Occupational Health and Safety and generally covers the legal requirements that fall under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The goal is to create the ultimate safe working environment and to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health at work for both employees, customers and the general public. 

The standard dictionary definition for Health and Safety is "regulations and procedures intended to prevent accident or injury in workplaces or public environments".

Health and Safety is important in a workplace because not only do businesses have a duty to protect their workers, customers and members of the public under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it's also good business practice to adhere to the health and safety laws.

Poor health and safety in the workplace can lead to someone becoming ill, injured, or even worse, die. You wouldn't want to be known as the employer who loses an employee in an accident. Workplace health and safety is important for the health and wellbeing of all employees across all industries. 

If businesses don't follow the health and safety legislation and guidelines, they can be liable for any damages or accidents that occur. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) is legislation that covers occupational health and safety and the general principles of health and safety in the workplace. It sets out the general duties that employers, employees and the self-employed have towards themselves, others and the members of the public.

It places a wide range of duties on the employer to take all measures "so far as is reasonably practicable" to prevent or reduce risk in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for enforcing the HSWA along with local authorities.

Employers and employees both have responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other Health and Safety legislation that have been made under it. 

The business owner or employer is legally responsible for health and safety management, including: 

- carrying out risk assessments 

- identifying hazards 

- implementing safety procedures 

- creating a health and safety policy 

- providing adequate health and safety training 

- displaying a health and safety poster 

- providing a first aid kit 

The employee is legally required to help the workplace remain safe, with a responsibility to take care of their own health as well as others who may be affected by their actions at work. Employees health and safety responsibilities include: 

- Understand the risks associated with their work 

- Follow health and safety training 

- Comply with safety procedures 

- Help keep hazards at a minimum 

- Report any failings in safety procedures 

Yes - we offer a range of Health and Safety courses online! They can be delivered via e-learning, webinars or blended learning and can be completed in your own time, from the comfort of your home. After completion, you will receive a health and safety certificate! 

You can start a free 14-day trial of our Unlimited Access Package here. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a set answer for how often you should refresh health and safety training. It will depend on a number of factors and most health and safety legislation leaves the decision to the employer. 

But as a general rule, Health and Safety refresher training should be revisited on an annual basis. You may want to refresh your staff's knowledge sooner if you get new equipment, a process changes or an accident happens at your workplace.