A practical guide to health and safety

Course Overview

Health and safety is a key issue for any organisation today. There is a legal requirement to comply with relevant laws and regulations. There is a business requirement to avoid the costs and loss of productivity associated with accidents and occupational illness. Above all, there is a moral requirement to safeguard the health and safety of employees and others.

If your role encompasses health and safety responsibilities, you have no choice but to ensure that you are fully up-to-speed on all the legal and technical issues. This comprehensive seminar has been designed specifically to help you. It will give you all the knowledge and skills you need to ensure effective health and safety within your organisation.

Audience

• Health and safety staff who are new to the role
• Others who have health and safety responsibilities, particularly HR and facilities managers and staff

Skills Gained

• Understand the legal requirements
• Ensure compliance
• Anticipate risks
• Minimise accidents
• Ensure a safer working environment
• Reduce costs
• Identify improvements to your organisation’s practices and procedures

Above all, the seminar will help you meet your organisation’s legal, financial and moral obligations for effective health and safety management.

Course Outline

Day One

Introduction, aims and objectives

• Glossary of terms
• Sources of information

The basis of health and safety legislation

• The legal system – criminal and civil law
• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• The EU ‘Six Pack’ of regulations
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations
• The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
• Regulations
• Penalties

Risk assessment explained

• Introduction, definitions and those responsible
• Purpose of risk assessment
• Definition of hazard and risk
• Assessing and rating risks
• Prioritising action
• Inspections
• Recording the results and reviewing

Implementing COSHH regulations

• COSHH assessment procedures
• Measuring exposure and taking action

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• The EC Directive definition and exclusions
• The provision, selection and use of PPE
• Care, maintenance and storage of PPE

First aid

• The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations
• Meeting first aid requirements

Improving fire prevention

• Basic principles
• The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations
• Fire risk assessment
• Causes of fire and the spread of fire
• Means of escape and fire-fighting equipment
• Practical fire prevention

Working at height

• Working at Height Regulations 2005
• Selection of equipment for working at height
• Examples of equipment which can be used
• Ladders and steps – to use or not to use?

Day two

Selection and control of contractors

• Employers’ responsibilities, relationships and control
• The Occupiers’ Liability Act
• Guidance notes
• Choosing competent contractors
• Managing contractors

Electrical safety

• Electricity at Work Regulations
• What is portable powered equipment?
• Testing and frequency of testing
• Safety measures

Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

• Standardisation and revised requirements: practical examples
• Risk assessment
• Safety training
• The effective use of safety signs and signals

Manual handling regulations

• The universal problem
• The Regulations
• Personal assessment and reducing risk
• Employers’ action

The general workplace

• Legislation:The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations
• Basic standards
• Housekeeping
• Welfare facilities

Display screen equipment

• Key terms
• Possible health risks and main user concerns
• Basic requirements and workstation analysis
• Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs)
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

Correct accident report and investigation

• Investigation and accident reports
• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

A practical guide to health and safety / cm65375