The Importance of training can never be underestimated. Whether it is work at height, confined spaces or new work equipment issued to complete a task.
Many companies cannot see the value of training and only see it as an expensive luxury. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only is it usually a legal requirement in many cases (depending on the nature of the equipment or hazard) but it is essential where new equipment is introduced into the workplace.
I have conducted countless work at height and rescue sessions where participants believe they already possess the skills required to use rescue equipment or don a harness, only to put the harness on upside down or inside out.
Common sense cannot be legislated for and as such evidence of training must be produced, not only to protect the employee but to protect the employer from litigation in the event of an incident.
Every year there are deaths and serious injury in the workplace, ranging from falls from height to overturning forklift trucks. If one of your employees were to be seriously injured or worse, are you able to produce evidence of their training or have you just let them enter a confined space or drive a fork truck because “Any idiot can do that”
And don’t forget part III of The Management Regulations whereby employers must provide a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for tasks and hazards encountered in the workplace.
For further reading and to protect your employees and company have a read of the following links.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)