What is workplace safety compliance?

Workplace safety compliance is about following established safety standards and regulations, and it constitutes one of the key components for business development and growth; a business will always struggle to move forward without a safe and healthy workforce

Positive business performance can be improved by fostering a culture of safety by being legally compliant, ensuring the correct safety measures are in place, providing the appropriate training and regularly reviewing safety management protocols

What are the consequences of poor health and safety management?

Neglect in this area can lead to accidents, serious injuries, and even deaths. Furthermore, employers could face prosecution, lawsuits and major fines

Under health and safety law, employers are legally required to protect their workers from becoming ill or injured in the workplace. Failing to do so may result in the following:

• Action may be taken against the employer under criminal law by a regulator such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or local authority

The affected/injured person may take legal action and make a claim for compensation against the employer under civil law

What are the key factors essential for creating a culture of safety in the workplace?

• Auditing the workplace facilities – this generally means conducting a walk-around the work premises to identify all potential hazards and risks that could impact the safety of the workforce
• Risk control/management – Once all the potential hazards have been identified, it is important to draw a safety action plan to manage and control those risks. Different types of hazard controls include:

• Administrative
• Engineering
• Substitution
• Elimination

• Staff health and safety training – ‘Everyone who works for you needs to know how to work safely and without risk to their health. This includes contractors and self-employed people’ (HSE). Employees must be informed of the preventative safety measures that have been enforced to minimise the risk of injury (or worse) in the workplace, and their role in safeguarding their wellbeing and that of all workers on site

Keeping records – it is important that the employer (or responsible person) documents all safety data required by law, as well as any incident or reported accident that occurs on work premises. Additionally, risk assessments should be reviewed and amended frequently to ensure they cover any developments/changes within the business and its safety procedures

Why is safety training in the workplace so important?

‘Over 200 people are killed each year in accidents at work and over one million people are injured’ (HSE)

• Training staff on workplace safety measures, protocols and equipment helps to cultivate good habits in health and safety, promoting assured growth and productivity for the business

• The aim of safety training is to try and promote proactive thinking (with the aim of preventing incidents from happening in the first place) as a school of thought among the workforce, as opposed to reactive thinking (which aims to avoid a problem after it has happened)

The latest fancy safety equipment your employer spent millions on, won’t work if you don’t know how to wear it!

• Appropriate training has proven to increase businesses efficiency and productivity, allowing employees to be more vigilant and observant of potential risks and hazards to their safety

• Safety training significantly reduces costs due to lawsuits, accident claims, lost production, lost work days and absences due to illness or injury (occupational ill-health)

• Finally, health and safety training will allow employers to meet their legal duty to protect the health & safety of their employees under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Health and Safety Online Training Courses

PD Training offers a variety of accredited health and safety online courses, all certified by CPD. The aim is to provide learners with the appropriate knowledge and understanding of workplace health and safety, while understanding their roles and responsibilities to maintain a healthy and safe work environment, allowing them and their colleagues to perform their job safely

Whether it is Fire Safety, First Aid or Risk Assessment training, we have a Health and Safety compliance online course that suits your needs

If you are unsure of which course will suit your learning aims and requirements, contact us and we can help you choose what is right for you!