You may know that it’s important to have health and safety training in your workplace, but what exactly should your employees be trained on? This article will help you determine what health and safety training is mandatory in your industry.
The first step in determining what health and safety training you need to provide at your workplace is knowing which ones are required by law or regulation and whether or not you want to go beyond those minimum requirements. Here are some of the types of health and safety training that you may want to consider providing for your employees.
Which of the Health and Safety Training is Mandatory
There are many training requirements for employees in the United States. Some of these training requirements are specific to certain industries, while others are general health and safety training that all employees should receive.
The most basic health and safety training for employees that is required in all industries is a fire safety training program. All employees should be familiar with fire prevention, as well as how to evacuate a building and what items should not be brought into a building. Employers should have a fire extinguisher available in each work area, as well as regular inspections conducted by fire personnel.
Another important health and safety training requirement for all employees is a general safety training program. All employees should be trained in how to recognize potential hazards in their work area, how to reduce those hazards, and what can be done if an injury occurs.
Employers may also provide first aid and CPR training through their general health and safety training program.
Many industries have specific health and safety training requirements that their employees must receive. For example, manufacturing employees are required to participate in an OSHA construction awareness training program. All construction workers are required to complete an OSHA construction training course, while their supervisors are required to complete a more in-depth OSHA construction supervisor’s course.
There are other mandatory Health and Safety trainings for other industries, like Oil and Gas, manufacturing, ICT, aviation, etc.
Knowing the mandatory Health and Safety training depends solely on two (2) conditions:
1. Industry best practices driven by the country’s safety regulations.
2. Organization scope of operation, etc.
If you run a company that provides health and safety training for employees, make sure your trainings are compliant with all applicable industry and government regulations. Most importantly, make sure your program provides value to employees in terms of their understanding of how to stay safe on the job and in their communities.
Who Is Obliged By Law To Have Health And Safety Training
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the training that is legally required will vary depending on the type of business and the work that is being carried out. However, there are some general rules that apply. First, all employers must provide health and safety induction training to all new employees. This training must cover the basic principles of health and safety in the workplace, such as fire safety and manual handling.
It also should include an introduction to any equipment or protective clothing that the employee may need. Employees should be able to complete their induction before they start working, but it may be necessary for a supervisor or someone else with more experience in their particular field to teach them about specific risks at a later date. The employer has a duty of care for employees and so if an employee has not received adequate induction training then it could be grounds for dismissal if something goes wrong during their time at work.
Once an employee has completed their induction, they should be given ongoing training as necessary to maintain their health and safety knowledge and skills. There are also some situations where extra health and safety training is compulsory. For example, if you work with dangerous machinery or heavy loads you may need additional training in manual handling techniques. If you work in a high-risk environment where there’s a risk of fire then an accredited fire safety course may be needed.
Certain professions also have their own health and safety training requirements. For example, people working with children or vulnerable adults need to be trained in child protection and safeguarding, while everyone working with animals must complete an Animal Care and Control Centre-approved course.
In conclusion, everyone requires safety training depending on need.
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Types of Training Obligations
As an employer, you have a legal obligation to provide health and safety training to your employees. Depending on the type of business you operate, there may be additional training requirements. For example, businesses that use hazardous materials or work with heavy machinery must provide specific types of training. OSHA offers free online courses to help employers meet their training obligations. In addition, many private companies offer health and safety training services.
In addition to any federally mandated training requirements, you might want to consider additional training for your employees. There are online courses offered through OSHA that can help workers improve safety awareness and compliance in their day-to-day jobs. You can also use videos and in-person workshops as part of an employee education program. Finally, many businesses choose to hire outside consultants or trainers when they need additional expertise in specific areas.
How Long Must You Retain Health and Safety Records
You must retain health and safety records for a minimum of three years. However, it is best practice to keep them for longer in case you need to refer back to them.
There are several reasons why you should keep these records for longer. In some cases, they may be required by law to be kept to help with insurance claims. You may also need them if an employee makes a legal claim against you for injury or illness at work.
If someone sues your company for damages that have been caused by negligence, then you will need to show the court that there was no fault on your part. It could be helpful to have these records as evidence that you did everything within your power to make sure the workplace was safe for employees.
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Some people may question whether it is worth keeping records for longer than three years. But if there are accidents or health issues within your company, it could come back to haunt you. If a former employee sues your business, they will often try to get hold of as much documentation as possible in order to support their case. Records that you have kept for a decade could be critical evidence when it comes to making your case in court.
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