Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Arguments For Health And Safety Training

By Leah Potter


Today's modern work place is a busy environment, and full of potential hazards. This has led to the need for Health and Safety training. These programmes should be completed by every single person on a company's pay roll, from the most junior person all the way up to the upper echelons. The ultimate aim is to provide a working environment that is as safe as possible, although no working environment will be perfectly safe.

Employers have a duty of care to both their staff and visitors to their establishment. All activities carried out on the business premises should have had a workplace risk assessment carried out. This is meant to highlight any potential safety issues, and also how to safely conduct any activities. Most items covered will normally have obvious solutions, but sometimes these can lead to complacency.

An employee is not exempt, as they also have their own responsibilities. They can be held accountable for not only their own well being, but also that of their colleagues. It could entail making sure that any provided safety equipment is used at all times, to ensuring that the established practices and procedures are followed. These simple things are put in place for the benefit of all.

If any person, either employer or employee, spots a potential hazard they are to immediately report it to the company's trained representative. This will result in the hazard being assessed. If it can be rectified there and then it will be, if not then everyone will be made aware of the problem and how to address it.

The majority of companies and businesses will have common issues that their respective staff need to be aware of. These can range from various chemicals that are in use, how to safely lift items, and how to avoid strain injuries. Yet at the same time they will also have their own separate concerns.

As an example a company could have a concern about people working in a confined space. By which they mean an enclosed area with restricted access, but an individual could potentially face the dangers of asphyxiation, drowning, explosion or fire. Due to the nature of these potential risks guidance and instruction can be obtained from specialist companies.

Companies should have all confined space risk areas clearly marked. They should also be secured to prevent anyone untrained accidentally gaining entry. While at the same time there should be enough entry and exit points if the confined space is of a long length.

All to often these confined spaces have been used as storage facilities for chemicals or fuels. As a consequence they often have very low oxygen levels. These areas should be constantly monitored for oxygen levels and the presence of contaminants. Therefore all operatives employed in this area should have been correctly trained on how to use such items as forced air breathing equipment. In the event of problems there should also be suitably trained rescue personnel.

It is quite obvious that any work environment has the potential for risks, although some are potentially riskier than others. These risks can be minimised by both employees and employers working in conjunction with one and other. Remembering to keep all health and safety training up to date, helps to create a safer working environment for all.




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