5 Reasons Why First Aid Training is So Important

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The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 need employers to supply first aid equipment, facilities and employees to make certain their own workers get medical assistance should they become ill or get injured in the workplace. Every single worker should be prepared and educated about health and safety just in case there was an urgent situation in the future.

Listed below are the highest 5 explanations why it's necessary to have first aid and Health and Safety Training at work:

1. Every place of work should have at least one employee that is fully trained in first aid and safety procedures. Somebody that is reliable in an emergency situation until the proper authorities or paramedics arrive.

2. Having your employees trained in health and safety is very important. They must be educated together for better co-ordination and less confusion. By having all or most of your employees skilled together they are able to work together as well as discuss information and there will be a much better response in the matter of an emergency.

3. Eliminate any kind of preconceptions or pre-judgments about first aid. Make clear any concerns employees could have when coping with an accident in your workplace.

4. Having your employees properly trained will not only help support them in work; but they will be able to acquire long-term understanding and expertise and put to use outside of the workplace. Having trained employees at work helps for a much better safe and secure working environment.

5. Confidence to health and safety in the workplace can make a huge difference. Taking up a common course of training allows for confidence to build and trust to be created at your place of work. Workers who have been given first aid training will also be more well-informed and think a lot quicker when dealing with certain situations that need emergency attention. 

It's your employer’s duty to protect the health and safety of their employees and make the workplace a safer place. If you want your employees and workers to have a proper working environment, then make sure that they are fully trained with first aid. Firsthand experience that comes from training from a qualified instructor either personally or through safety videos is essential, especially when tackling an emergency situation at work. With proper education and safety training; your employees and workers can be more confident and think faster when handling certain situations that require emergency care.

Promote a healthier, safer and risk-free environment at work. There are a variety of ways to promote safety in the workplace including health and safety DVDs, booklets, Safety Posters, software and E-Learning etc. If you want more information on health and safety training in the workplace, click on this link => http://www.SafetyMedia.co.uk

How and When to Work with Asbestos

 

Asbestos Regulations states that employers and self-employed are required to prevent exposure to asbestos fibers when working with asbestos or doing work that may potentially disturb asbestos in any way. When it is not reasonably practicable, the Regulations state that they must make sure that exposure is kept as low as reasonably practicable by any other measures other than using respiratory protective equipment. Also, further spreading of asbestos fibers must be prevented at all costs.

If the Control of Asbestos and Regulations enforcers, the HSE, know that you are potentially working with asbestos or your employees are exposed or working with it, they will go and specify the work methods and controls that should be used to prevent exposure and spreading of asbestos fibers.

Here are some airborne exposure limit, also known as Control Limits, that the Asbestos Regulations have set:

1. 0.1 fibers per cm3 - for all types of asbestos for four hours of exposure

2. 0.6 fibers per cm3 - for short term exposures lasting for ten minutes

Exposure and working with asbestos should require protective equipment so as to minimise risks as much as possible.

How to Remove Asbestos

HSE requires that only HSE-licensed contractors remove asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. However, decisions on whether a particular job or work needs a license depend on the RISKS that it involves.

Licensing is not required if:

1. The exposure that employees have to asbestos fibers are sporadic and of low intensity. But exposure is not considered sporadic or low intensity if the asbestos concentration in the workplace air exceeds 0.6 fibers per cm3, over a span of 10 minutes.

2. Risk assessment verifies that the employee won't exceed the Control Limit's exposure to asbestos. This usually means that the work involved is:

a. Maintenance activities that are short and non-continuous. This happens when the work involves only one person, and the activities last less than an hour, in a seven-day period. The total number of hours spent by all the workers to remove asbestos or asbestos material should not exceed two hours;

b. When the asbestos fibers in the material to be removed are firmly linked in a matrix. These materials include: asbestos cement, articles of bitumen, resin or rubber that contains asbestos, and plastic. Materials that contain asbestos for their thermal and acoustic properties, like vinyl floor tiles, roofing felt, and electric cables, and also insulation products that are used for high temperatures but have no insulation purposes, like gaskets, washers, ropes, and seals, are also included;

c. Encapsulating and sealing asbestos-containing materials in good conditions; and

d. Collecting and analysing samples for air monitoring and control.

In retrospect, under the Asbestos Regulations, employees who work on asbestos insulation, asbestos coating, or asbestos insulating board (AIB) requires a license issued by the HSE.

As an employer, it is your job to ensure that your employees get sufficient safety from asbestos. The inhalation of asbestos fibres is responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. Provide your employees with the essential information about Asbestos Safety and its dangers with this DVD => http://www.safetymedia.co.uk/asbestos-the-facts-dvd.html

Safety E-Learning - Growing Importance of E-Learning

Businesses now understand the impact E-Learning can have for both providing training and reducing costs, and during these times of austerity, there's no greater task than reducing costs.

Traditionally training budgets are targeted in a cost reduction programme; however there is still a legal requirement to provide employees with health and Safety training. E-Learning can offer a solution for reducing costs while also providing your employees with interactive and engaging training.

What are the advantages?

This is a powerful tool which offers companies a number of key advantages, with the main advantage being the quality of training offered. E-Learning providers are able to respond quickly to any changes in health and safety legislation and guidance and update courses accordingly.

E-Learning presents content in an appealing, media rich and interactive way. These combined attributes ensure that your employees become fully engaged in the Safety Learning course content and absorb the information presented.

A good course will include a self test at the end of the course as a method of ensuring your employees have fully understood the content. Employees who successfully pass their course(s) can then be given a Certificate of Training as a reward which can be printed off directly from the E-Learning system.

For health and safety training, the reduction of risk employees' face is a vital element. Courses can include a risk checklist, asking your employees questions about the safety risks they face in and around the workplace. This checklist will enable the administrator of the E-Learning system to identify any employees who are at high risk and record details of any measures put in place to reduce this risk.

Once training has been completed, you will need to store training records should you ever get assessed by the Health and Safety Executive. An E-Learning system will hold all training data including courses started, completed and incomplete and results of the self test and risk checklist for each individual employee. This powerful information is accessed by the system administrator and is an audit trail of all training completed through the system.

Let's not forget the cost savings!

By implementing an E-Learning system can save a company up to 80% of their training costs. Although the initial cost the system may appear to be a more expensive alternative, when the costs are broken down, you will see the savings.

An E-Learning system will save costs in a number of key areas. Staff downtime will be reduced as they will not be required to leave their tasks for more than an hour at a time. The flexibility of E-Learning means they can complete their training course(s) at a time and pace that suits their learning style and access training 24/7 via the Internet. They can now choose the most appropriate time to complete their training while having minimal impact on productivity.

This system will also remove the need for travelling to external locations for training sessions. You will save on travel expenses; trainer hire and venue hire costs when using an E-Learning system.

Finally, if you have migrant workers within your company, you may currently need to hire an interpreter for your training sessions. However, by using an E-Learning system that is Multi-Lingual capable, you will no longer need to hire interpreters as employees can train in their own language.

Do you want to know more about our Safety Learning sytem? Well, this is your chance! With so many benefits to using an E-Learning system why not take a look around and find a system to meet your training requirements? For more information visit this link here => http://www.SafetyLearning.co.uk

The Importance of Workplace Safety Posters

The workplace is always a buzz, full of people and lots of work to be done within the day. There are Safety Posters pinned up in every corner of the room, but how many people take this seriously? How many of them have actually read these safety posters? How many of them follow the proper ways and policies in the workplace?

You may ask anyone what their responsibilities are in cases of emergencies; what they should do and or any precautionary measures that they know off; would they be able to answer? The truth is, some employees working for any organisation are not aware of their rights and duties at work. Paper work, manual handling, machinery problems, etc.; all of these require knowledge of what's to be done in the workplace and how to execute the tasks safely.

For an instance, in a factory; many of these workers do their jobs with machinery; are they equipped with the right outfit for the job? Do they know their rights as a worker? Do they conform to the company's policies regarding safety? Some of them may have done the job over and over again, some employed for ten years or so, they are the veterans in the workplace and most of them do not even follow the safety rules and policies. They just follow their own means of executing the job. Yes, they did the job but they are jeopardising their safety in the process.

It is very important for employers to empower their employees and letting their workers know about the details regarding any laws, regulations on safety and on their rights.

Safety Posters must be put up in a visible area in the workplace; this is to remind them of the basic things they have to remember when working. This serves as a reminder to maintain their health and safety while at work. Safety measures must be taken in any workplace, so safety posters are a very big help. They can prevent any accidents from happening either by human error or by the any third party. Prevention is always better than any cure.

This is not only for the factory, but even applicable in offices. Managers and administrators can get help from these Safety Posters. Also, there are posters that can be customised or personalised to fit the needs of a company. This is to ensure that everyone in the company is functioning according to the policy and safety guidelines implemented. They can also remember basic tips to make their jobs a lot easier. These safety posters can also help them be aware of any changes made by the law regarding safety policies that could affect the company. Therefore, these posters are not only for design, but they keep the employees updated with the latest news and changes. And not only that; they serve as a tool for empowerment for the employees and to create a safer environment in the workplace.

Start pinning these safety posters in your workplace and implement the change that needs to be done. Empower your employees and provide a safe environment for them, they will appreciate it. View our collection of  The Simpson's Safety Posters, visit this link=> http://www.safetymedia.co.uk/posters-and-signage/the-simpsons-posters.html

Fire Safety Training: How to Perform a Fire Drill

Fire is one of the most dangerous elements; it spreads easily and can damage lives. In the workplace a fire is a potential cause of injury to the workers and no business can afford to ignore fire safety. This is why it's important to implement a Fire Safety Training program in the workplace. A fire safety training at work ensures that every worker under your company knows the proper procedures in cases of fire. A proper plan is not only essential to safety but also it's also the part of the law.

The first step that you need to take to help save your workers and business from fire is to make sure that you have an effective fire alarm system. These can help save lives and also save most of your buildings located in your business. In order to have a working fire alarm system; make sure that they are installed by credited installers.

Once you have these system installed, it's important that you test them regulary and that they are checked by the proper authorities just to make sure that they follow the proper regulations regarding fire safety. After that, you can start to plan a fire drill to make sure that everyone knows how to exit the premises safely in cases of fire.

To be able to perform the drill properly, it's best that you have a fire marshal or any proper authority in the department to help you out. They will be able to see any glitches and they can help in changing anything with your plans. They can also time your workers on how much time they need to get out of the building safely and on time. Just request an available fire marshal in your area to help you.

Make sure that when the fire drill is going on, all of your workers and or employees are participating. It is very vital for your employees to know the codes set by your company regarding fire safety and the codes set by the laws and local department. This also goes with informing your staff with any changes relating to these laws or codes. They should also be informed of any changes in your escape plans and routes they must follow or any new steps that need to be taken. You can do this at least once or twice per year, gather all your staff and inform them of any changes.

Fire Safety Training drills should at least be done once a year and should cover anything from any normal fire to the worst case scenario. The use of fire extinguishers and fire blankets should also be taken into account especially with manufacturing business.

Safety is not something that you should just take lightly, conducting a safe and effective fire safety program is the responsibility of the company and the key figures in the department, safety is everyone's responsibility. All you have to know is that everyone follows the plan and is properly trained to deal with such situation.

Start creating and practicing your fire safety drills in your workplace and implement the change that needs to be done.

Fire safety is a burning issure for all businesses.  Protect your workers and provide a safe environment for them.  Make them aware of the correct fire safety procedures to follow in case of a fire using our Fire Safety Video.  Find out more about evacuation procedures, fire extinguishers and general principles of fire safety awareness, click here http://www.SafetyMedia.co.uk/fire-safety.html

DSE Risk Assessment Training: Getting To Know the Four ULD Risk Factors

It’s estimated that 374,000 people in the UK have suffered Upper Limb Disorders caused at work. It can affect any part of the arm from fingers to shoulder or the neck and can include problems with tendons, ligaments and soft tissue muscles. It’s essential to carry out a risk assessment to prevent conditions like Carpel Tunnel Syndrome or repetitive strain injury from occurring.


So how are risks assessed? Firstly, you have to understand what the risk factors are that can lead to upper limb disorders; secondly, you have to know how to use the risk assessment resources that would help you assess the risks; and lastly, identify the early warning signs that may attest the existence of a problem.

Let’s take a look at risk factors, so that you can identify them during a risk assessment:

1. Task-Related Factors.

What are task-related factors? From what you can assume from the name, these factors come from the nature of the job itself. There are four causes that we can connect to task-related factors:

a. Repetition. This is a risk factor since the more a task is repeated, then the greater the risk there is that the employee would have Upper Limb Disorder. Break up long work periods sitting at your desk with several short breaks.

b. Working posture. If employees are working in an uncomfortable position or they are unmoving for prolonged periods of time then this presents a risk. For example, Upper Limb Disorders can be evident when an employee is sitting in front of the computer. If the employee is not using an ergonomic chair, the position might become uncomfortable, resulting to aches and pains.

c. Force usage. At various stages things around the office will need moving, whether that is a box of printer paper or a filing cabinet. It’s best to avoid lifting if possible, but if not then the weight of the object should be lessened.

d. Duration. How long are office workers expected to work in a certain position or area? The longer the working hours, the more likely an injury might occur.

2. Environment-related Factors

These are considered risk factors since it’s not only physical stress that cause Upper Limb Disorder but also because stress-related changes can cause muscle strain which makes employees more likely to develop Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD). There are two types of factors to be considered:

a. Working atmosphere. This involves the physical environment, like the temperature and lighting, and the existence of some elements, like vibrations.

b. Organisational factors. This doesn’t have anything to do with the physical environment, but more likely with the work factors such as high workloads, deadlines, and lack of motivation in the work.
3. Employee-related factors.

These factors involve the employee, and the other employees in the work area. This is one more factor that could add to the stress of an employee. For example, there can be individual differences with another employee, or even with the management. New employees are more open to this risk since a new environment usually means more adjustments.

An employee can develop an Upper Limb Disorder, a common form of musculoskeletal disorders in any workplace. Your place as an employer is to see that the risks are minimised, and if possible eliminated.

To find out more, Safety Media’s best selling DSE DVD can offer you guidance and advice on how to reduce the risk of injury when using DSE on a regular basis. The DVD provides a guide on how to correctly set up a workstation, to ensure correct posture and the importance of taking regular breaks away from the workstation to help reduce the risk of injury. Visit this link to view a preview of our DSE DVD => http://www.safetymedia.co.uk/display-screen-equipment/display-screen-equipment-dvds.html

Manual Handling Training: Benefits For Managing Upper Limb Disorders

While it's true that upper limb disorders (ULD) is present in all kinds of workplaces, it doesn't mean that the worker who is exposed to the risks would end up with ULD, nor does that mean that these risks cannot be controlled in some way. As an employer, it would be best for you to know how to control ULD in such a way and you can pass this information to your workers. Not only that, but minimizing and managing the risks of ULDs to your employees would lessen the risk of legal action and its possible compensation costs.

So what exactly are the business benefits of managing Upper Limb Disorders?

1. Increased efficiency. Of course, when your employees do not have any MSD bothering them, they would be able to perform to the best of their physical ability. This efficiency could also translate to those jobs that need to be thought out, since physical discomfort can also affect mental health and well being.

2. Working days lost to sick leaves. Sick leaves can affect the total productivity of your employees. They might be insignificant when taken as single occurrences, but when taken as a whole, with all your employees' sick leaves taken into account, then the number of days lost to it would be minimized.

3. Fewer staff replacement and re-training costs. Let's admit it, for people to work efficiently first, they need training. Every year, millions of pounds go into employee training and seminars. The only problem is that when employees get sick, the possibility of employee replacement is going to be eminent. Thus, all that money on training would be lost, especially if the employee hasn't had enough time to actually give back. Protecting employees from MSDs and specially, ULD, would save the company money in the long run.

4. Reduced risk litigation

5. Lower compensation costs and insurance costs. Of course, when the employee gets sick and it's found out that it's work-caused of work-related, then the company has to do compensation for the employee and his company. And also, the company would have to pay for his insurance also.

So in the long run, if you can't or would not manage ULD while it is still manageable, both your company and your employees would suffer. You can also risk possible legal action, and more financial losses through possible compensation costs. However, as the employee, you can still do something to manage ULD.

Here are two steps that you can do to protect yourself and your employees from ULD and other forms of MSDs:

1. Do risk assessment. Risk assessments help you assess spots in your workplace, wherein the work activities may cause harm. It also helps you investigate current and past cases of ULD.

2. Formulate risk reduction. Of course, after your assessment and once you find the work activities that can cause or evoke ULD, then you would need to formulate ways to reduce them. You can introduce changes to the work area gradually, or else, add tools that can lessen possible interaction with ULD causes, you can also make sure that the work environment is conducive to work.

Safety Media helps in making your workplace safe from ULDs and other forms of MSD. You can purchase our top seller Manual Handling Training DVD, and find out ways to do activities such as lifting and pushing techniques to prevent threads of MSD eliminated. Lean more at our Safety Media website here  => http://www.SafetyMedia.co.uk/manual-handling.html

Stress at Work - Health and Safety in the Workplace

The difficult economic climate can not only impact budgets and sales targets but additional increase the stress levels in the workplace. Last year 435,000 people suffered with stress and 9.8 million business days were lost through work-related stress.

Work is usually great for people if it’s well managed, however it can also be a great source of pressure. You will find there’s a difference between pressure and stress. Pressure can be good and motivating factor, and is generally important in work. It can benefit us accomplish our targets and perform much better. Stress occurs when this pressure becomes extreme. Stress is a normal reaction to too much pressure.

Having a well managed approach to educate and encourage Health and Safety is essential to the ongoing success of your business. By doing every effort to avoid work-related stress you will notices many advantages, such as:

• Employees feel more committed at work and motivated
• Increased morale in the office
• Lower staff turnover – fewer employees leaving due to happy work environment
• Reduce costs of recruitment, sick pay and overtime
• Fewer accidents and injuries
• Improved work quality
• Better employee understanding and tolerance of fellow workers experiencing problems

Have you got steps in place to deal with work related stress in your organisation?

The main element to dealing with work-related stress is to present your employees with crucial information and guidance – this can be achieved through E-Learning.

Safety Media’s Stress Awareness E-Learning course has been made to make your employees alert of the potential risks work-related stress can cause. The course recognises the impact of stress, how to deal with it and how to identify hazards. The course is ideal for every member of your business to increase awareness of what causes work-related stress and help reduce the ill effects.

The CPD certified course will take between 20-30 minutes to finish and concludes with a risk checklist and self test to determine your employees understanding. The answers of the risk checklist will provide your training supervisor with a complete risk analysis of every employee and will emphasise areas where changed are necessary to reduce the risk of work-related stress.

Safety Media’s E-Learning course is an affordable solution for your business. Along with a collection of over 50 CPD certified health and safety training programs, you can customise a training programme to meet your requirements. The E-Learning system has a complete Learning Management System helping you to train, monitor and evaluate all activity within one main reporting system.

If you have less than 50 workers, then have a look at our SME E-Learning solution. With prices starting from only £20.00 per person, per course you will receive the benefits of our E-Learning system but on a ‘pay as you go’ basis.

Learn more about E-Learning from Safety Media by going to www.SafetyLearning.co.uk or call 0845 345 1703 to talk about your health and safety needs.