Why Health and Safety Training Saves Nurseries Time and Money
“How you deal with health and safety training will demonstrate your beliefs, values and professionalism.”
- by Laura West
Training is a hot topic in health and safety, and often causes confusion. I am regularly asked by clients to clarify what training their staff teams require and how much importance they should attach to it.
The answer is simple – health and safety training is vital for businesses. For staff to be able to perform their roles safely and effectively, you need to invest to equip them with the appropriate skills and knowledge.
Your responsibilities
Your priority as an employer must be the health, safety and wellbeing of your employees, and this requires competency as well as commitment and good intentions. How you deal with health and safety training in your business will demonstrate your beliefs, values and professionalism to not only your employees but also your parents.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) states every employer must provide whatever information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure, “so far as is reasonably practicable”, the health and safety at work of their employees and others affected by their activities. It is your legal duty to comply with this.
Effective health and safety training will help your workforce to identify hazards and stay happy and safe. It will create a positive safety culture across your whole business, help avoid unnecessary costs due to accidents or ill health, and enable you to meet your legal duties.
Where to start
Firstly, you must identify what training is needed by which staff. Pay attention to employees’ roles, as different roles may require different training. The method of training should also be considered – e-learning, face-to-face or a combination of the both known as ‘blended’ learning:
E-learning The advantage of e-learning is it allows staff to train in familiar surroundings, at their own pace. E-learning can be tailored to meet individual requirements, and incorporate a variety of digital technologies (text, imagery, animation, audio, video) to allow for different learning styles.
This method is generally preferred by employers as it is often cheaper and is adaptable to the needs of the business. Problems revolve around a lack of capable equipment available and connectivity.
Face-to-face This has been the staple form of training for many years. It is not dependent on technology, and you can interact with a trainer, asking specific questions when needed.
However, this type of training is generally more expensive and less accommodating with locations and times, which can affect your business.
Blended learning This is the best possible training method, offering a collaborative and holistic approach to training, enhancing the overall process. However, the same issues around cost and flexibility that affect face-to-face training apply.
In the nursery
Let’s look at the role of a nursery practitioner and identify what training they require to perform it safely…
Slips and trips In a nursery, accidents are often caused by discarded toys and other resources. A ‘Slips, Trips and Falls’ course is highly recommended, as it will teach staff how to identify, control and manage the risk of such events occurring.
It is worth remembering slips, trips and falls account for more than half (59%) of major/specified injuries, and on average over 90% of major slips, trips and falls result in broken bones.
Manual handling Another aspect of the job is lifting and carrying, not just boxes and resources but also children, especially when working with under-twos. Whether it is lifting children for nappy-changing or putting away the latest delivery, a ‘Manual Handling’ course is required.
When selecting a course, make sure it provides guidance on lifting children safely so as to not cause harm to yourself or the child. Manual handling is the main work activity responsible for back disorders and work-related musculoskeletal disorders related to 9.5 million working days lost during 2014/2015.
COSHH A ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’ course is recommended for anyone who handles cleaning products or chemicals, to ensure their safety and that of those around them.
Screen use If an employee is expected to use a computer for any length of time I would recommend a ‘Display Screen Equipment’ course better known as DSE, but it is generally only necessary for managers and administrators.
Fire awareness There is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to provide staff with fire safety training. The training needs to be provided on induction and periodically after this.
Fire safety training isn’t just knowing which fire extinguisher to use; if staff are unaware of nursery procedures, escape routes or even their role in a fire evacuation, there can be potentially deadly consequences. As always, prevention is far better than cure and training staff on how to avoid fires in the first place is just as important.
First aid This is an integral part of any business especially when children are involved. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require you to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and people so your employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work.
The EYFS has also been changed and now requires newly qualified Level 2 and 3 entrants to the early years workforce to have either a full paediatric first aid or emergency PFA certificate within three months of starting work.
H&S reps If an individual employee is also a health and safety representative then specific training is recommended to help them understand their role and the relevant legislation, and identify and minimise hazards and dangerous occurrences.
Organisations that can help train health and safety representatives include the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH).
Summing up
Keep in mind that effective health and safety training is hugely beneficial to your business – it will not only give your employees the confidence and knowledge to carry out their roles efficiently, but also save you money and time by reducing the amount of accidents, injuries and ill health that occur.
In short, you can’t afford to ignore it.
In figures
The latest health and safety statistics for Great Britain help put the need for training into perspective…
- 1.3 million working people suffered from a work-related illness (2015/16)
- 72,702 other injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR (2015/16)
- 2,542 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2015)
- 137 workers killed at work during (2016/17)
- 30.4 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injuries (2015/16)
- £14.1 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2014/15)
Laura West is the childcare health and safety specialist at MCW, a family-run business specialising in health and safety, auditing and training for the childcare industry. Visit mcwconsulting.co.uk.
