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The health and safety at work act requires that you provide whatever information, instruction and training is needed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of your employees. So, Who needs Health and Safety Training?

Employers do Whether you are an employer or are self employed it is essential that you are up to date with methods of identifying potential risks and hazards at work. It is important also to know where you can obtain help about safety issues, and consultation with employees about safety issues. If you are uncertain about any of these factors then you could benefit from some training.

Managers and Supervisors do Managers and supervisors need to know exactly what you expect from them in terms of health and safety. They need to understand your health and safety policy and where they fit into the system and how health and safety is managed in the company. They may also need specific training in the specific hazards connected to your processes and environment.

Employees do Anybody who works for you including self employed people need to know how to work safely without risks to themselves or others, they also need to be aware of your health and safety policy and there part in implementing it. hey also need to be aware of the procedures for raising safety concerns that they may have.

Particular attention should be taken to new recruits who will need basic induction training on basic work safety plus specific training on company procedures for First Aid and Fire procedures. Young employees are also at risk from work place accidents and their training should be a priority. It is also important that a good level of supervision is in place initially for inexperienced staff.

Current Legislation (Plant & Equipment)

The correct and proper training of staff, and the maintenance of good standards of equipment and working areas is a legal requirement of all employers, regardless of company size or nature of the business.

Recent years have seen various changes to the regulations with particular regard to operators of mobile plant machinery. What has happened is that many of the potential grey areas of the past have been now removed with new and more specific legislation.

1998 saw the advent of two new sets of legislation, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). These two sets of new regulations have had big implications to companies that operate mobile plant.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations has had the biggest impact on companies and it is strongly recommended that companies obtain a copy of the regulations to ensure that they are in full compliance and meeting their requirements.

The requirement of training is laid down in Regulation 9 of PUWER 98 and states:

• Every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for the purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken.

• Every employer shall ensure that any of his employees who supervise or manages the use of work equipment has received adequate training for the purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken.

So in short not only do operators of work equipment need to be correctly trained but also people who supervise the use need to have been trained.

But what does 'adequate training' mean? Paragraph 185 of PUWER 98 describes adequate training as follows:

It is not possible to detail here what constitutes 'adequate training' as requirements will vary according to the job or activity and work equipment etc. In general you will need to:

   (a) evaluate the existing competence of employees to operate the full  range of equipment that they will use;

   (b) evaluate the competence they need to manage or supervise the use of work equipment; and

   (c) train the employee to make up any shortfall between their competence and that required to carry out the work with due regard

         to health and safety.

The regulations go on to state that while training needs are most likely on recruitment training is also needed when employees are exposed to risks due to a change in their working tasks or because new equipment is introduced or the system of work changes.

It also expresses the need for refresher training on a regular basis, with particular attention towards people who do not use the machines on a regular basis.

Further information can be obtained in the following HSE publications:

• Safe Use of Work Equipment (L22)

• Safe Use of Lifting Equipment (L113)

• Rider Operated Lift Trucks Approved Code Of Practice (L117)

• Safety in Working with Lift Trucks (HSG6)

Or by contacting John Gallagher at our head office on 01536 517889