 Communication and training are key in ensuring that all the efforts put in to health and safety in the workplace really work.
Effective communication will assist in developing a positive culture. It keeps people informed, and conveys the intent of management to encourage ownership and responsibility, at all levels of the workforce.
Direction and clarity of communication are both vital, in developing and maintaining an enthusiastic attitude toward health and safety.
How and what you convey to your workforce matters, as does how often you do it.
It is also important that the role of training within the context of communication is appreciated.
Health and safety law says:
- employees must be trained and clearly instructed in their duties;
- employers and host companies must ensure contractors are properly trained to work safely.
Everyone who works for you needs to know how to work safely, and without risks to health. So you need to train them, to be sure they know what hazards and risks they may face, and how to deal with them.
However, in addressing the issue, even the more obvious statements such as ‘staff must be trained’ can be difficult to fully comprehend, for example;
- Who is to be trained (this will vary greatly depending upon your Policy)?
- What training is required (it should reflect Policy rather than be a ‘generic fix’)? Some employees may have particular training needs, for example
- new recruits
- people changing jobs or taking on extra responsibilities
- young employees who are particularly vulnerable to accidents
- health and safety representatives
- Who will deliver the training – are they competent?
- How will trainee competence be measured and recorded?
- How will the training be used to improve performance?
- How often should I train my people?
These are amongst the issues that will require to be addressed. Riskmonitor can assist you in all, or any part of the communication and training process, via our team of trained professionals. With RAMIS, information is readily obtainable to those who need it.
More than that, it is instantly available and always current.
If currency is not being maintained, or progress made, it can tell you so. It simplifies and readily supports an effective communication policy.
Contact us to see how we can help.
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