Employees need the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies to perform their jobs effectively and safely. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) outlines the legal requirement for a combination of “information, instruction, training and supervision” for employees to do their jobs effectually. This is not just a “nice to have,” and the Courts will view a failure to train as a criminal offence, if that training is a legal requirement.
The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) cites a lack of training in virtually all of its convictions. While it may not be the defining factor behind an accident, training, or the lack thereof, is nearly always an underlying cause in cases where an organisation is prosecuted for health and safety failings.
With the HSE maintaining a 95% conviction rate, it’s essential that managers train their staff thoroughly and, just as importantly, keep records of that training.
Training = competency
Training helps employees acquire and develop the knowledge and skills they need to perform their jobs competently. This includes technical skills related to their job duties and soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. By improving employee competencies, organisations can improve their performance, increase productivity and ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
Training can be carried out in various ways, as evidenced by the definition in the HSWA above. Information, instruction, training, and supervision can take the form of formal qualifications, toolbox talks, induction programmes, written operating procedures, mentoring and job shadowing, and other informal on-the-job procedures. There is no one size fits all approach, and organisations must determine what will work best for them.
You can learn about the importance of effective training on NEBOSH’s latest webinar, ‘Health and safety training: more than just a tick box’