Training and information

If you are an employer you must take into account an employee’s capabilities as regards health and safety when giving them tasks to complete. You must then provide adequate training when employees:

• join your organisation
• are exposed to new or increased risk.

This training must be repeated periodically; adapted to take account of any new or changed risks; take place during working hours; and free. You may also need to provide other, more specific training in certain circumstances.

You must also provide employees with comprehensible and relevant health and safety information. This must cover:

• the risks identified by any risk assessments and the precautions to be taken
• the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency, including the identity of those nominated to assist
• any other necessary precautions necessary where a workplace is shared with another employer.

In many cases, you may have to afford the same level of protection to volunteers as you do to your employees. This may mean providing them with relevant information and training where appropriate.

Generally, if someone is injured you may need to show that you have met your duty of care.

You will need to:

• decide what is needed for your employees and others
• identify how best to deliver it and what resources will be needed to do this
• arrange for it to be delivered in a timely manner, keeping records of what you have done
• monitor the effectiveness of any training provided
• in some cases, document your arrangements for providing information and training
• review these and your training needs to make sure they remain effective.

For more information about training and information, why not download our guide.