Why You Need Safety Training In Your Workplace

Over 200 people are killed each year as a result of accidents at work and over one million are injured. On top of this, over two million suffer illnesses caused by, or aggravated, by their occupation. It is not unrealistic to assume so many of these unnecessary tragedies could have been avoided by successful first aid training. While some careers, like medical personnel and first responders have mandatory first aid training, others do not require it. Despite this, every business can benefit from employees with basic first aid knowledge. This extra skill is also very desirable to potential employers and sets someone apart in the job market. Completing a first aid course shows an employee is wanting to constantly better themselves and gain more skills. As the law requires every business to have a first aider on the premises, with the necessary credentials to qualify someone for a prospective role, they pose an attractive employment proposition. First aid skills are highly sought after and suggest you can keep a level head in high stress environments.

First aid training involves a mixture of practical scenarios and theoretical learning. Examining a casualty, using a defibrillator and controlling bleeding and trauma are just a few of the skills taught on a certified first aid course. The result is to give a person the necessary skills and knowledge to overcome a life-threatening situation long enough for paramedics to arrive. Other first aid skills taught are treating burns and assisting a choking person. Another area covered is recording and reporting, especially important in a work environment.

For companies, industrial safety training protects people from the risks associated with work activities. While legal responsibility rests on employers, employees are expected to look after the health and safety of themselves and others. Industrial safety training is important to minimise risks that could cause death or injury but also to maintain the success of the business. The greatest asset of a company is its people and failures in health and safety can lead to expensive compensation, insurance costs and lost productivity. In some industries, such as mining or construction, the dangers can be evident, but in others such as office work, retail and hospitality can also be hazardous in different ways. Industrial safety training can help reduce workplace accidents and injuries. This saves the company from costly legal battles and reduces the likelihood of employees leaving due to work-related illnesses. The UK government have a zero-tolerance approach against companies that fail to meet the health and safety standards and large fines can completely cripple a business, as well as damaging its reputation and credibility.

Apart from these obvious benefits, businesses can enhance productivity and satisfaction among staff by having them complete health and safety training. A safe work environment encourages harder work and higher morale. Effective health and safety training leads to fewer employees needing to take a leave of absence, meaning long-term disruptions to ongoing projects are reduced. This also lessons the potential loss of highly skilled workers and therefore no training is required to replace their expertise. Beyond just the financial benefits, the overall atmosphere and working experience of a business is made more positive by ensuring employees have completed safety training. An employee completing a first aid course will feel that their employer cares about their well-being and will be knitted further into the company. In today’s society, a good health and safety strategy serves as a good indicator of company’s awareness and commitment to social responsibility. This in turn attracts potential new employees to an organisation, attracting skilled workers and improving the company’s prospects. Similarly, a company with a strong record of health and safety success achieves high recognition and a good standing in the industry.