Health Market

Health and Safety – Training and Risk Assessment

When we talk about business, there are several risks involved, which take various forms. Right from the business’ inception to its death, these risks generate and spread its roots constantly. The risks we are referring to here are not only the investment risks or the raw materials procurement risks, but also the extremely dangerous heath and safety risks. Health and safety risks can cause illness and may prove to be enormously fatal, even leading to accidental deaths at work. Hence, this calls for immediate preventative measures with the help of an effective health and safety training programme as well as health and safety risk assessment.

Health and safety training contributes greatly in leading successful commercial processes. It assists in:

? Ensuring a suitable work atmosphere and hygienic conditions for the workers to avoid injuries and illness.

? Establishing a constructive health and safety culture, where safe working becomes a daily practice.

? Meeting the employer’s obligation to provide protection to his employees, as per the law.

Hence, it is absolutely imperative to set up a defined health and training programme to ensure a secured work environment.

On the other hand, when it comes to the risks associated with health & safety, a thorough health and safety risk assessment becomes a must. The health & safety risk assessment involves a detailed study of the responsible factors that might cause damage to the people. This evaluation helps in taking trenchant precautions to curb the possible hazards.

Carrying out health and safety risk assessment must be steady and uncomplicated and should involve the employees to gather more and more useful ideas.

The health & safety risk assessment involves 6 crucial steps, namely:

? Identifying the health & safety hazards.

? Determining the people who might be harmed and affected.

? Recognizing the reasons and risks that might harm the people.

? Evaluating these risks and accordingly setting precautionary measures.

? Recording the findings and executing them systematically.

? Reviewing the assessment and revising it if required.

Thus, with the above mentioned approach, health and safety risk assessment can provide safe protection to not only your employees, but also to you.

Other useful techniques to combat the destructive work hazards effectively:

Manual Handling Training:

Most of the occurring injuries at work take place due to faulty manual handling, which involves the transport or the support of loads by either hands or physical force. The key point to be noticed is that these injuries can arise at every workplace; be it a factory, building site, hospital, laboratory, warehouses, and other workplaces. Hence, it is urgently essential to adopt effective manual handling training to prevent these manual handling dangers.

Manual handling Training requires careful considerations to be taken regarding the nature of work. Manual handling should be made comfortable or preferably avoided as much as possible to restrict the possibility of the arising injuries. Wherever required, establishing substitutes to manual handling like building pipes for liquid flow, using gravity to enable downward movement of the materials, etc. can play a helpful role in manual handling training.

Moreover, manual handling training needs constant technological upgradation and regular assessment so as to make necessary alterations in the training programme. This will ensure better health and safety prospects for the employer and the employees alike.

Fire Marshal Training:

Fire hazards are other treacherous risks that can occur at a workplace. For instance, problems may arise in the electrical systems or the appliances that can lead to fatal accidents. In such cases, it is vital to implement fire marshal training with no waste of time. Fire marshals or fire wardens, as known in the UK, are responsible for fire safety and evacuation. They are especially trained to combat fire and assist in fire safety processes at businesses and other organizations, with greater emphasis on the employee safety.

Fire Marshal Training involves a deep study about all the aspects related to fire, the use of fire extinguisher, and so on. It requires careful steps and a planned approach to ensure maximum safety. Furthermore, Fire Marshal Training focuses on strategies to carry out immediate measures and successful evacuation activities.

Therefore, it is highly recommended to adopt the necessary Fire Marshal Training techniques and enable a safe and healthy workplace.

Not many would be aware of this, but the government has legislation for health and safety of people at work. The Health and safety at work etc Act 1974 requires the employers to have proper health and safety management systems at work. The Act makes provision for securing the health of people at work, welfare and safety of the employees including the people who are not directly employed by the company like contractors and visitors.

While the law exists and it is mandatory for the employers to follow the guidelines, it is also necessary for the employees to know about their rights and duties regarding their own health & safety. Employers should conduct a General Risk Assessment to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

To create awareness about health & safety at work, the employers should have proper employee induction & health and safety training programs whenever new employees join the company. The induction program should educate the employees about the safety standards, procedures and policies of the company.

The basics of health and safety at work start with having proper First Aid. Every organization big or small must have proper First Aid Kits and systems. While at work, people can suffer an injury or fall ill. It is very important for the company / firm to have proper arrangements so that the employees can receive immediate medical attention. A person who has received proper training for administering First Aid should be appointed for this.

Fire safety is of prime importance at work. The potential hazards and sources of fuel, oxygen & ignition etc should be identified. Proper Fire detection and warning systems should be in place to prevent any mishaps. Fire extinguishers should be kept ready in different places throughout the building. There should be exit doors and escape routes in the building. Electrical equipments and wiring should be proper and checked at regular intervals. The employees should be given training on dealing with fire emergencies. Fire drill and Fire Risk Assessment should be done at regular intervals.

Stress at work place is common. But if it starts affecting the health of the employee then it is a problem. Employers should identify the factors causing excessive stress to the employees. A stress risk assessment should be done to identify the potential hazards and risks. Proper measures should be adopted to control excessive employee stress. Employees should be given proper training, support and care to help them prevent & relieve the stress.

Employers should follow the norms of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. They should assess the health risks faced by the employees from the chemicals or substances used at workplace. Proper control measures should be adopted and the same should be followed by the employees. Training and information about the health risks should be provided to the employees.

The employers are also required to have proper policies for disability health & safety. Employees with cognitive, physical, sensory, ambulant and other disabilities have a right to proper arrangements and facilities at the workplace. There should be proper access, lighting, signage, seating arrangements for the disabled. Other employees of the company should also be sensitized about the same.

New and expectant mothers have a right to proper care at the workplace. The employers should identify the potential hazards to the mother as well as the baby while at work. The employers can offer alternative work, different or less work timings or paid leave to ensure the health and safety of the mother and baby. Similarly, arrangements should be made for young persons at work and lone workers. A general risk assessment should be done for the security, health and safety of such employees.

It is important that the employer as well as the employee is aware of the rights and duties pertaining to health and safety at workplace. For details you can take the services of a health and safety consultant or just search for “health and safety at work” on any major search engine.