1. Overview

Everyone who works for you needs to know how to work safely and without risk to their health. This includes contractors and self-employed people.

You must give your workers clear instructions and information, as well as adequate training. Make sure you include employees with particular training needs, for example new recruits, people changing jobs or taking on extra responsibilities, young employees and health and safety representatives.

2. Decide what training and information you need

Think about how much training you need. If you’re a low-risk business, providing simple information or instructions is likely to be enough - for example if you’re based in an office.
Make sure everyone has the right level of information on:

• Hazards (things that could cause them harm).
• Risks (the chances of that harm occurring).
• Measures in place to deal with those hazards and risks.
• How to follow any emergency procedures.

Ask your workers if the training is relevant and effective. Keeping training records will help you decide if refresher training is needed.

The information and training should be easy to understand. Everyone working for you should know what they are expected to do.

Health and safety training should take place during working hours and must be free for employees. There are external trainers who could help, but you can often do effective training in-house. Staff will need extra training if you get new equipment or your working practices change.

Include workers with particular training needs

Make sure you include:

• • New recruits.
  • People changing jobs or taking on extra responsibilities.
  • Young employees, who are particularly vulnerable to accidents.
  • Health and safety representatives.

3. Include workers with particular training needs
Some of your staff may have particular training needs, for example:

• New recruits.
• People changing jobs or taking on extra responsibilities.
• Young employees, who are particularly vulnerable to accidents.
• Health and safety representatives.

There are particular laws relating to the protection of young people at work and the functions and training of health and safety representatives.