Survey raises questions over workplace safety and training
1 Feb 2022
Nearly one in three respondents to a UK health and safety survey say they have received no workplace training about the issue.
In a survey of more than 800 people, Solicitors Graham Coffey and Co. questioned more than 800 people and discovered that around 30% had never received health and safety instruction for their place of work. A further 32% admitted that they had not received any training in the last year.
Partner at Graham Coffey and Co Stuart Snape, said his company, which specialises in accident claims, had been surprised so many of those questioned appeared never to have received health and safety training in their place of work.
“Under usual circumstances, perhaps these employees work in very low-risk environments, but the proliferation of COVID-19 over the last few years inspired many workplaces to take extra precautions,” he stated.
“It’s especially surprising in this light that so many businesses still are not providing this type of training to employees who might benefit.”
The firm added that there remained no legal requirement to provide health and safety training to employees unless they are at heightened risk of injury while carrying out their duties, although many companies provided additional training during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that both staff and customer safety.
The report also revealed accidents were common than expected, with 169 (21.26%) reporting they had had an accident or sustained an injury in their place of work.
Workers at risk of muscle strain, cuts using heavy machinery or working outside or on slippery surfaces should receivd special training, advised the report authors.
Nearly one in five respondents were unaware whether their place of work had an accident book while 7.5% said that their workplace did not have an accident book – a legal requirement, in fact, for workplaces with more than 10 employees.
Added Snape: “Clearly, the most important take-away from these survey results is that more training is needed for employees. Workers need to understand how to manage risk and avoid accidents, and businesses need to reinforce and follow correct procedures when responding to an accident.
“Employers should also carry out regular risk assessments to protect workers. When new equipment is introduced, they should ask whether employees need additional training to operate it safely.”
Photo: Correct safety approaches such as this are not always replicated throughout factories and workplaces suggests the report
