Assessing your needs

摘要

HEALTH AND SAFETY training should not be viewed as a separate entity from normal job training. There are, of course, a number of situations where health and safety training is best delivered separately, such as on induction or for a specific health and safety role such as a fire marshal. However, in many cases health and safety is quite rightly integrated into job training. For example, you learn the safe way of driving as an intrinsic part of the process of learning to drive - you learn to check the mirrors and signal before moving off and learn that overtaking on corners and blind summits is not recommended. However, the training received by employees may not always be good and people, unfortunately, do cut corners, forget or adopt bad habits. Training can be costly but there are a number of very good reasons for providing it. From a business point of view, training people to carry out their jobs safely has a number of benefits. At the top level, training helps to control business risks. You would not countenance letting loose a poorly trained accountant in your business - too risky. Competent staff (a cornerstone of developing a positive health and safety culture) will have fewer accidents, will require less supervision and will be able to contribute more fully to the organisation. Fewer accidents mean lower absenteeism, less cost associated with civil claims and result in fewer investigations, lower insurance and, frequently, and a better public and shareholder image. It also has the cultural dividend of a workforce with higher morale and a willingness to cooperate and contribute.