Health and safety training is an integral part of a safety management system. Organisations that want to achieve good health and safety practices at the workplace always invest in safety training for their workers.
A workplace is a dangerous place that exposes workers to hazards that can harm them. Regular training on health and safety will help the workers on what to do during hazard exposures.
However, here are some of the reasons why you need to invest in your worker’s health and safety training.
Compliance with Safety Laws and regulations.
Laws on health and safety put the employer under obligation to fulfil training, instruction, information and supervision to their employees.
For example, The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It’s sometimes referred to as HSWA, the HSW Act, the 1974 Act or HASAWA. It’s the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (2006 Amendment & 1999) set out the framework for all employers to follow to ensure that they can work in an environment that is, as far as reasonably practicable, safe and without health risks.
The occupational safety and health act (OSH ACT 1970) of the United States Department of labour encourages the employer to provide research, information and training for employees in the workplace.Â
The safety training should not be discarded in the bin even when you’re in an environment with minimal risk.
Safety training helps an organisation to be on the good side of the law since it promotes safety compliance.
Risk reduction.
Often, employers and employees neglect to subscribe to safety training because they think that there’s no associated risk with their work. But that’s a lie. Risks exist in all workplaces, though can be different depending on workers’ exposure to them and the types of hazards involved.
Whether a big or small company, hazards can cause harm or injury to people. And for that, your knowledge of its risk through health and safety training ensures that we have a healthy workplace.
Cost-saving.
Some organisations fail to engage more in programs like safety training because of the cost implications.
They don’t want to spend money that would have gone into production. But on the other way, when an accident happens, it always involves a lot of costs both direct and indirect cost which ordinarily, health and safety training should have helped to prevent from happening.
The direct cost of accidents such as medical expenses, doctor’s fees, hospital expenses, medications, and rehabilitation.
And indirect costs such as lost productivity disrupted work schedules, replacement costs for new employees, time spent on accident investigation, and bad publicity.
Positive Image.
How customers, clients, contractors or job applicants see your company matters a lot. If a company’s image is damaging and negative as regards health and safety, it will affect the way outsiders see them.
An organization with a positive image will increase workers’ productivity, this equally increases sales. Such a company can easily hire and retain the best workers because people will like to work with them. Customers will easily key in since they value the health and safety of their workers and visitors.
Health and safety training will ensure that workers and employers know what to do to prevent accidents. And equally, incorporate certain healthy behaviours that will enhance the company’s image. An organization where health and safety training is not taken seriously is prone to accidents and its positive image is affected.
Productivity Increase.
Injuries affect work production. When workers are absent because of work illnesses or injuries, production is affected. But if the employees are trained in health and safety management, they will know how to prevent injuries from happening. This will lead to reducing work absences. And increase the productivity of the work overtime.
Regardless of your company size, training on health and safety is a great investment for you. Safety training increases workers’ value and knowledge in working safely and in accident prevention. Safe production will always happen and the workers will be happy doing their work. So, it’s a win-win situation for all.
Feel free to give me a chat when you need help with the health and safety training to embark on for yourself or your company
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Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
