This article will explain the various responsibilities an electrician may have, how to become an electrician and the qualifications required, the skills you need to have and how to develop your career as an electrician.

What Does an Electrician Do?

Electricians work with any equipment, wire or machine that uses energy. They install, inspect, test and repair electrical equipment to ensure that it works correctly and safely. 

On a daily basis, and depending on what type of electrician you are, you may be responsible for:

• Installing wires, sockets and switches in properties.
• Carrying out the necessary checks of electrical systems to ensure they’re safe and working efficiently.
• Designing electrical and lighting plans for new properties.
• Installing, checking or repairing street lighting and traffic management systems.
• Rewiring residential buildings and other properties.
• Constructing and installing control panels. 
• Carrying out repairs to electric machines.

Depending on your specific duties, you may work at a client’s home, offices, schools, shops, other buildings, on a construction site or outside, if involved with traffic management systems or street lighting. You may work alongside others, carry out lone working, work in confined spaces or work at height. To ensure you are kept safe and healthy, you may need to wear personal protective equipment. The working hours can vary, but are typically between 30 and 40 hours a week. There are different types of electricians and so you need to understand which position you would like to pursue.

What Qualifications Does an Electrician Need?

To develop a career as an electrician, you can take several different routes. You may be eligible for courses at colleges or those offered by other training providers. Alternatively, you could learn on the job through an apprenticeship which combines practical work experience with classroom style learning. If you have transferable skills, such as experience working in construction and trades, you could retrain as an electrician. Note that if you want to become more specialised as an electrician, you will need to undergo additional training and, in some cases, gain further qualifications.

You will likely have better job and earning prospects if you follow an industry-approved training route to become a qualified electrician. As these courses are of a high standard, completing them shows that you meet these standards and are skilled. Examples of industry-improved training includes training courses offered by City & Guilds, EAL and apprenticeships. It’s important that you carry out your own research into which route is the best for you to take.

College

To provide you with an introductory level of understanding and practical skills for the role of an electrician, you may want to take a college course. Alongside this, you must undergo practical training in a workplace to become a fully qualified electrician. On completion of a college course, you may find it supports you to secure an apprenticeship or trainee position to further your career prospects.

Courses available at a college or other training provider may include the following, as listed on the National Careers Service and Go Construct websites:

• Level 2 Diploma in Access to Building Services Engineering (Electrical)
• City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Building Services (Electrical Installation route) or EAL Level 2 Intermediate Diploma in Electrical Installation
• City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Building Services (Electrical Installation route) or EAL Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Electrical Installation
• T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction

You will need to check the entry requirements for the course you want to take. Usually, you need to have:

• For a Level 2 course, 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent.
• For a Level 3 course, 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent.
• For a T Level course, 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and Maths.

You can find out more about college courses and T Levels through the links below:

• Find a course | National Careers Service
• T Levels | The Next Level Qualification

On completion of a college course, you will need to work in the industry to become a fully qualified electrician. You will either need to find employment and join an apprenticeship programme, or find employment or become self-employed and take the City & Guilds or EAL’s Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems & Equipment (Buildings, Structures & the Environment). Whichever route you take, you must then pass the AM2 assessment to become fully qualified.

Apprenticeships

Electrician apprenticeships include a combination of on-the-job training and learning at a college or training provider, though they tend to involve more practical training than classroom-based learning. You will be fully employed by your company and work at least 30 hours per week.

Options include a domestic electrician advanced apprenticeship (level 3), an installation and maintenance electrician advanced apprenticeship (level 3) or an electrician apprenticeship with the armed forces. Both the domestic and the installation and maintenance apprenticeships are equivalent to A level and eligible for government funding. The domestic electrician apprenticeship will teach you how to install and maintain electrical services within a domestic setting, while the installation and maintenance electrician apprenticeship will teach you how to do so in industrial and commercial environments, as well as residential. 

If you want to join the British Army and train as an electrician, you can do so as a Royal Engineer soldier. You will firstly undergo initial military training as a Junior or Regular Soldier for either 14 or 23 weeks. Following this, you will attend the Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment for 12 weeks and then finish with a 33 week course at the Royal School of Military Engineering. Similarly, the Royal Air Force offers the Level 3 Engineering Technician – Mechatronics Maintenance Technician (Electrical) apprenticeship. This teaches you how to design, build, service and repair a range of engineering products and services.

You usually need to have 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and Maths, for an advanced apprenticeship. If you want to gain your training in the British Army, you need to have GCSE grade 9 to 5 (or A to C) in Maths, GCSE grade 9 to 4 (or A to C) in English Language and one other subject. For the RAF’s apprenticeship, you need to have GCSE grade C/4 in English Language, Maths and an approved Science/Technology-based subject. Both the Army and the RAF require applicants to meet additional criteria. You must pass the basic physical fitness assessment to be eligible for the British Army’s apprenticeship. The RAF also requires applicants to pass a fitness test and the Defence Aptitude Assessment in addition.

To find out more about apprenticeships that are available near you, follow the links below:

• Gov.uk: Become an apprentice
• Gov.uk: Find an apprenticeship
• Apprentice Training Course – Domestic Electrician
• Apprenticeship Training Course – Installation and Maintenance Electrician
• Electrician – Royal Engineers
• Electrician – Royal Air Force

Essential Qualifications

To fully qualify as an electrician, there are some essential qualifications which you must hold. You need to complete the Achievement Measurement 2 (AM2) assessment which is an industry-recognised competence which proves your practical electrical skills. The test is administered by the National Electrotechnical Training (NET) and is usually the final component of your electrical qualification. You can find out more about the assessment on the NET’s website.
In addition, there are some criteria which you need to meet depending on your circumstances. If you want to work with electrical wiring it is essential that you have normal colour vision. You will have to pass a colour vision assessment test to verify this. If you are going to be carrying out work on a construction site, you may need to hold an Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) card. The card accredits your electrotechnical qualifications and experience.

Awareness Training

Before you decide to pursue a career as an electrician, it’s important that you understand what the job can involve and know that it is the career path you want to take. During your training to become an electrician, you may want to take an awareness level course to build on your practical knowledge. Awareness courses are also useful if you want to learn more about an industry.

Looking for a Course?

Our Electrical Safety Training online course is designed to give you an understanding of the main risks and necessary controls for the safe use of electricity at work. If you will be working with portable appliances, you may also benefit from High Speed Training’s Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) course.

Alongside electrical safety and PAT awareness training, you may find general health and safety training to be useful. We offer a range of online training courses that may be suitable for an electrician to improve their knowledge and skills alongside their practical training. Courses include: 

• Health and Safety Training for Employees
• Working at Height
• Lone Working
• Working in Confined Spaces
• PUWER Training
• Lock Out/Tag Out
• Ladder Safety
• Manual Handling 
• Workplace First Aid

What Skills Do You Need to be an Electrician?

Before pursuing this career, you should consider whether you will be a good fit for a career which can involve manual, demanding work and long hours. You need to have a range of skills to be successful as an electrician, including hard skills which are specific to the job role and gained through training, and soft skills which are relevant to various industries.

Hard Skills for Electricians

You need to have or be working to develop the following technical skills to be an electrician:

• Ability to use, maintain and repair electrical equipment, machinery and tools.
• Knowledge of engineering science, technology, design, building and construction. 
• Specialist knowledge of your area of expertise. For example, understanding of specific equipment maintenance. 
• Strong maths skills.
• Ability to work well with your hands.
• Good levels of physical fitness.
• Ability to complete basic computer-based tasks and use software packages.

You will develop many of these skills during practical training. However, for some, you may find it useful to take additional training to supplement this. For example, depending on the type of electrician you are training as, you may find Working at Height or PUWER Training awareness courses beneficial.

Soft Skills for Electricians

Alongside your technical capabilities, you also need to have certain soft skills to be a successful electrician. Examples of soft skills that make a good electrician include:

• Excellent attention to detail and ability to be thorough.
• Strong initiative. 
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Active listening.
• Confident working well independently and as part of a team.
• Adaptability to changes requested by clients or required by circumstances.
• Good time management.

Want to Learn More?

High Speed Training’s comprehensive catalogue of articles can help you to understand and develop your soft skills to become an effective electrician. You can learn about communicating effectively in What is Effective Communication in Construction? which is tailored to those working in the construction industry but will be useful for electricians in all sectors. Our How to Improve Active Listening in Communication article explains the benefits of listening with focused intent which can result in more effective interactions with colleagues and clients. You may also want to improve your time management skills with our One Week Time Management Plan: Three Famous Techniques article.

How to Get a Career as an Electrician

There are various routes that you can take to get a career as an electrician, including the options covered previously on apprenticeships, college courses and other qualifications. The route you take will depend on your circumstances and what will be best for you. 

If you are a school leaver and have no or limited work experience, you may want to start with taking a relevant course at a college or other training provider. In some circumstances, you may be able to get a job as an electrician’s mate, trainee or assistant without much prior experience. You will need to have GCSEs, including English and Maths, and be able to prove solid practical skills. If you take this route, your employer may then support you with training to become a fully qualified electrician.

If you are looking to change careers, you could retrain as an electrician if you have previously worked in a similar industry and have experience and relevant qualifications. For example, if you were employed as an engineer. If you have relevant experience, you may be accepted for an electrician role offered by an employer. The level you are able to enter the profession at will depend on your experience and background.

If you already work as an electrician and have done so for at least five years but don’t hold a Level 3 electrician qualification, you may be able to get your skills and experience formally recognised to the industry Level 3 benchmark through the Experienced Worker Assessment.

There are many opportunities for progression as an electrician or to use the transferable skills gained for a different job in the sector. You could become a site or project manager, or may choose to specialise in a particular area, such as training as an electrical designer. You may want to set up your own business or become self-employed as a subcontractor or as a tutor.
If you would like to work in the construction and trades industry and want to find out more about the other careers available, have a look at this guide to Careers in the Construction Industry.

Electricians are in high demand in the UK, making it a good time to consider this as a career to pursue. To meet this demand, there is a range of support available to help you understand which route is best for you to take to qualify as an electrician and the different specialisms you can follow. If you have the skills required, you can develop a fulfilling and flexible career as an electrician.

Further Resources:

• Electrical Safety Guidance for Working on Construction Sites
• Electrical Safety Quiz
• Electrical Safety Symbols & Signs – What Do They Mean?
• What is Asbestos?

The post How to Become an Electrician appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

• Answering Your Asbestos Awareness Questions
• How to Conduct an Asbestos Risk Assessment
• What to Do After Recent Exposure to Asbestos
• What is Gypsum in Construction?
• What is Asbestos Awareness Training & Who Needs it?
• Asbestos Awareness Course

The post Asbestos Quiz appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

In this article, we will define exactly what asbestos is and where you are likely to find it. We will also outline the different types of asbestos and how you might recognise it.

What Exactly is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that was used in buildings and materials for many years to provide additional fire protection and insulation properties.

Materials made with asbestos are strong, incombustible, heat-resistant and sound-absorbent, making asbestos an attractive material for electrical and building insulation, among other uses.

In 1999, the UK banned asbestos due to an increased incidence of lung-related diseases in those working with the substance. However, any building or material manufactured or refurbished before the year 2000 may contain asbestos. Therefore, you have an increased risk of encountering it when working on pre-2000 properties.

Are you aware of the dangers that asbestos poses? Check out our Asbestos Awareness Quiz to test your knowledge. 

Where is Asbestos Found?

As asbestos was used to provide additional fire protection and insulation properties, it could be found in a number of different places.

For example, in a house, factory or office built before 2000, asbestos could be found in:

• Roof tiles.
• Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB).
• Water tanks.
• Pipe lagging.
• Ceiling tiles.
• Tile adhesive.
• Vinyl floor tiles.
• Fire breaks in ceiling voids.
• Cement guttering or pipes. 

You’ll be in danger of encountering asbestos at work if you carry out refurbishments, repairs or maintenance trades. Examples of people who are commonly at risk include:

• Builders.
• Carpenters and joiners.
• Roofing contractors.
• Heating and ventilation engineers.
• Plumbers and gas fitters.
• Electricians.

However, it is important to remember that asbestos doesn’t just affect those who work with it. If disturbed, asbestos can affect anyone in the immediate area. Fibres can also be carried on clothing, which may then impact the worker’s family and friends.

Why is Asbestos Bad?

Asbestos is a fibrous material, meaning that it is made up of fibres that are incredibly small – approximately ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.

If asbestos or ACMs are disturbed, these fibres are released into the air. If inhaled, the fibres can get trapped in the lungs, potentially causing scarring and inflammation. This affects breathing and leads to serious health problems, such as:

• Asbestos-related lung cancer. This malignant tumour of the lungs’ air passages can cause an obstruction that looks similar to lung cancer caused by smoking.
• Asbestosis and fibrosis. Scarring of the lung tissue leads to breathing difficulties and can cause further complications, including heart failure.
• Mesothelioma. A cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside the ribs (the pleura), or of the abdominal wall. It is fatal at the time of diagnosis. 
• Pleural plaques. These affect the pleura adjacent to the ribs, with around 20% to 60% of people exposed to asbestos developing pleural plaques.

Asbestos fibres can also cause health problems for other parts of the body. For example, asbestos warts and corns can form both on the skin and around major organs.

To learn more about asbestos exposure, have a look at our article: What are the Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure?

Friability

The risk of asbestos fibres being released and causing ill health depends on the friability of the ACM. This means how easily the material can crumble and release fibres. The greater the friability, the greater the risks of health problems.

ACMs that are more likely to be damaged and release inhalable asbestos fibres are known as friable. On the other hand, ACMs that are more resistant to damage and are therefore less likely to release harmful fibres are known as non-friable.

Friability is caused by two main factors:

• The type of materials used along with the asbestos in the ACM.
• The type of asbestos in the ACM.

For example, asbestos cement sheets or gutters contain a low percentage of asbestos and, therefore, pose less of a risk. Conversely, sprayed asbestos insulation is often almost entirely made up of asbestos and deteriorates over time, either through mechanical or weather damage. Therefore, the risks from these materials can be much higher.

You can find more information on the differences between friable and non-friable asbestos in our article, here. 

Need a Course?

Our Asbestos Awareness (Category A) training course is designed for anyone whose job role may expose them to asbestos. It explains in detail what asbestos is, where it may be encountered and what to do if you discover it.

What are the Different Types of Asbestos?

The term asbestos refers to six unique minerals belonging to two mineral families, serpentine and amphibole. All forms of asbestos are highly toxic and exposure can lead to the development of many terminal diseases, such as mesothelioma.

The three main types of asbestos that you may come across whilst carrying out building work are:

• Chrysotile (white asbestos). Chrysotile is the most commonly used type of asbestos and is often contaminated with trace amounts of tremolite. Chrysotile fibres are usually fine in texture, possessing high flexibility and good heat-resistant properties, making it ideal for use in cement, brake pads/linings and roofing materials.
• Amosite (brown asbestos). Mined mostly in Africa, amosite is a particularly strong and heat-resistant type of asbestos that was commonly used in cement sheets, plumbing insulation and electrical insulation. Though all types of asbestos are toxic, amosite asbestos exposure has a comparatively higher cancer risk.
• Crocidolite (blue asbestos). Crocidolite has very thin fibres and, if inhaled, are easily lodged in the lungs. Its thin fibres and brittle nature make crocidolite one of the most harmful forms of asbestos, as it easily breaks down and leads to asbestos exposure.

While the main forms of asbestos are often called white, blue or brown, in the majority of cases, the asbestos cannot be distinguished by colour. In all cases, accredited testing will be required to ensure that the type of asbestos is correctly identified. 

You can find more information about the different colours of asbestos in our article, here.

How to Recognise Asbestos

As we’ve already discussed, the different forms of asbestos are made up from two types of fibres: serpentine and amphibole.

Amphibole fibres is the term used for the group of asbestos types that include amosite and crocidolite. They also include a further three types of asbestos that are less commonly found: tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Amphiboles have needle-like crystals and are usually dark in colour. 

Chrysotile is made up of serpentine fibres, which are curly and in sheets of crystals.

It’s essential to know that you will not be able to identify the presence of asbestos by sight alone. As we’ve established, the ‘colours’ are not a reliable way of identifying the different types of asbestos which, in itself, can appear in many shapes and forms. 

The only way to know for certain whether asbestos is present and which type it is, is to have a sample analysed by a specialist laboratory. Find out more here: How to Test For Asbestos. 

However, you must never handle or try to remove asbestos yourself. If you encounter what you suspect to be asbestos, you must not touch it. Instead, you should keep it isolated and seek specialist advice. If it is asbestos, then only professionals who are specifically trained to manage it should handle and remove it. Our article, ‘Can You Remove Asbestos Yourself?’ goes into more detail on this topic. 

As part of any health and safety management process, there should be emergency procedures in place to deal with the discovery or accidental disturbance of asbestos. Everyone who is at risk of potential exposure should understand the specific, immediate actions that need to be taken should this event occur. Check out our article for more information on what to do if you’re exposed to asbestos, here. 

We hope you’ve found this article on asbestos informative and helpful. If you have any further questions about the topics discussed in this article, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at High Speed Training. You can contact our friendly team on 0333 006 7000 or email support@highspeedtraining.co.uk.

Further Resources

• Asbestos Awareness Course (Category A)
• Answering Your Asbestos Awareness Questions
• What Are The Three Types of Asbestos Training?

The post What is Asbestos? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

In this article, we will outline the impact of asbestos exposure and how you might spot the symptoms. We will also provide you with guidance on what to do if you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos and how the risks of exposure can be managed.

What is Asbestos Exposure?

If asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are disturbed, the tiny asbestos fibres can be released into the air. These can then be breathed in, getting trapped in the lungs and potentially causing scarring and inflammation. This affects breathing and leads to serious health problems.

Effects of Asbestos Exposure

Some asbestos-related diseases include:

Asbestos-related lung cancer. This malignant tumour of the lungs’ air passages can cause an obstruction that looks similar to lung cancer caused by smoking.

Asbestosis and fibrosis. Scarring of the lung tissue leads to breathing difficulties and can cause further complications, including heart failure.

Mesothelioma. A cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside the ribs (the pleura), or of the abdominal wall.

Pleural plaques. These affect the pleura adjacent to the ribs, with around 20% to 60% of people exposed to asbestos developing pleural plaques.

Asbestos warts and corns. These can form both on the skin and around major organs.

Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure

Not all asbestos-related diseases or conditions cause symptoms. A lack of symptoms is not an indication of good health. If you believe you could have been exposed to asbestos, either recently or in the past, you must speak with your GP.

However, as the lungs are the most likely organ to be affected by the inhalation of asbestos fibres, and this presents a risk of developing cancer, you should always seek medical advice if you experience any of the following:

• Chest pain.
• Breathlessness.
• Weakness.
• Weight loss.
• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Abdominal pain.
• Malaise.

This is not an exhaustive list but these symptoms are commonly associated with an underlying health issue and should, therefore, always be addressed. 

How Long After Asbestos Exposure Before Symptoms Occur?

There is no safe level of exposure when it comes to asbestos, but there are certain factors that can increase the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, such as:

• The friability (how easily the materials crumble) of the ACMs.
• The amount of fibres released into the air.
• The duration of exposure.
• The degree of exposure.

There is no hard and fast rule on how long after exposure you are likely to develop symptoms, either. As we have mentioned, not all asbestos-related conditions present with symptoms and each health concern can have a variable latency period. For example, it can be anywhere between 15 to 60 years from initial exposure before mesothelioma becomes apparent, at which stage it is a fatal diagnosis. Whereas, asbestos-related lung cancer or fibrosis are often detected within 20 to 30 years of exposure. 

The ill health effects of exposure to asbestos fibres can also be worsened by smoking, with a 2013 study showing that non-smokers who are exposed to asbestos over an extended period are five times more likely to die from lung cancer than the general population.

Looking for a Course?

Our Asbestos Awareness Training provides you with the knowledge you need to help keep yourself and others safe from the risks of asbestos exposure. This is essential for anyone who could potentially be exposed to asbestos during their work.

What Should You Do After Recent Exposure to Asbestos?

As part of any health and safety management processes, there should be emergency procedures in place to deal with the discovery or accidental disturbance of asbestos. Everyone who is at risk of potential exposure should understand the specific, immediate actions that need to be taken should this event occur. 

Initial key steps to take are:

• Stop work immediately and put up warning signs.
• Keep everyone out of the area.
• Report the problem to the person in charge.
• Follow the left-hand column of the EM1 flowchart if the material does contain asbestos and follow all stated actions.

The HSE EM1 flowchart is a key guidance document provided by the HSE. You can access this here.

How to Prevent Asbestos Exposure

The primary way to ensure the risks of asbestos exposure are managed effectively, is to ensure that The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012) are adhered to at all times. The regulations cover the key duties of those in control of places where asbestos may be present, including identifying and managing it and ensuring that others are aware of its presence.

Your personal responsibility to manage the risks will depend on your position. For example, under the regulations, employers and premises owners have additional responsibilities to employees. Employers are responsible for ensuring a risk assessment that addresses the controls for asbestos is undertaken, drawing up a written plan of work for any work which may disturb asbestos and an emergency plan outlining the correct actions to take in the event of discovery or accidental disturbance of asbestos. 

Regardless of your role, it is vital that you comply with the regulations, follow any risk assessments, plans and protocols in place, and work in line with any safety measures required, such as avoiding certain areas and using certain personal protective equipment (PPE) or respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when advised. 

You must also complete the appropriate training for your role and responsibilities. The different types of training includes:

• Asbestos Awareness Training (Category A).
• Non-Licensed Asbestos Training (Category B).
• Licensed Asbestos Work (Category C).

To find out more on the most appropriate category of training for you, take a look at our article on the Three Types of Asbestos Training.

It is essential that everyone, particularly those most likely to work with or around asbestos, are aware of the dangers it can pose to health. By understanding how to manage the risk of exposure and how to act in the event of discovery or accidental disturbance of this dangerous material, you will be better able to protect yourself and those around you from harm.

Further Resources:

• Asbestos Awareness Course (Category A)
• What is Asbestos Awareness Training & Who Needs it?
• What is an Asbestos Management Plan?

The post What to Do if Exposed to Asbestos appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

In this article, we will look at who is responsible for fire safety in the workplace, the regulations and responsibilities of those responsible, as well as some workplace fire prevention rules.

Who is Responsible for Fire Safety in the Workplace?

Ensuring fire safety in the workplace is a shared responsibility, with specific roles assigned to different individuals. The UK Government’s guidelines state that primary responsibility lies with a key figure who, in most cases, is one of the following:

• An employer.
• The owner of the premises.
• The landlord.
• An occupier.
• Anyone else with control of the premises, for example, a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor.

These individuals, known as responsible persons, are designated to oversee the day-to-day implementation of fire safety measures, including maintaining firefighting equipment, organising regular fire drills, and ensuring that all occupants are familiar with evacuation procedures.

Employees also play a crucial role in fire safety compliance and vigilance, following established fire safety procedures, participating in training programs, and promptly reporting potential hazards, all of which are vital to maintaining safety.

Need a Fire Warden Training Course?

In some cases, the company will designate a fire warden. Our Fire Warden Training Course will provide you with the necessary theoretical training required to be a qualified fire warden

Fire Safety Regulations in the Workplace

There are comprehensive fire safety regulations in place for workplaces to safeguard both employees and premises. Understanding and adhering to these regulations is vital to maintaining a safe working environment and minimising the risk of fire-related incidents.

The responsible person, such as the employer or owner of the premises, must play an essential role in managing fire risks. The official government website lists the following crucial aspects that responsible persons must perform:

• Carrying out a fire risk assessment of the premises and reviewing it regularly.
• Informing staff or their representatives about the risks they identify.
• Implementing and maintaining appropriate fire safety measures.
• Having a plan for a fire emergency.
• Providing staff information, instruction and training around fire safety.

The government also offers a collection of guidance materials for those with legal duties for workplace fire safety covering specific measures required for compliance. This includes the provision of suitable firefighting equipment, regular risk assessments, and the establishment of clear evacuation procedures.

You can learn more about how to create a fire safety evacuation plan in our article here.

Fire Prevention Rules for the Workplace

There are a number of rules you can implement in your workplace to reduce the risk of fire. These are outlined below.

Heating

• Avoid using open electrical bar heaters or halogen-type heaters – oil-filled (radiant) radiators are a safer alternative.
• Avoid placing heaters near flammable objects or under desks.
• Keep heaters clear of any blinds/curtains/furnishings, etc.
• Ensure that heaters with time switches are not set to automatically come on at certain times, as they might do when people are out of the office.
• Set a reminder to turn heaters off before you leave the office.
• Ensure you have a heater that automatically switches off if it topples over.
• Look out for staining or discolouration of the appliance or surroundings, and discontinue using the heater if you see any. The same goes for any strange smells.

Cooking

• Do not leave food unattended during preparations.
• Ensure you switch off equipment, e.g. an oven or microwave, after use.
• Keep tea towels and other flammable materials away from the stove or other heated appliances.
• Ensure the oven, stove, and grill are kept clean, as a build-up of fat and food debris can cause a fire.
• Do not place anything metal in microwaves.
• Do not use microwaves as an additional surface (this blocks the air vents).

Smoking

• Make sure you fully extinguish cigarettes and discard them properly.
• Keep an eye on cigarette bins and empty them if they get too full (or notify whoever is responsible for doing so).

Electrical

• Ensure electrical equipment has a suitable conformity marking indicating it has been manufactured to safety standards. As a result of Brexit, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is in a transition period with regard to conformity marking and conformity assessment of products being manufactured or supplied for sale in Great Britain. All new PPE supplied in Great Britain must be marked with the appropriate conformity marking (UKCA or CE before the deadline for UKCA implementation) or be accompanied by documentation marked with it. There are different requirements for Northern Ireland.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using a device/piece of equipment.
• Use official chargers and cables for devices and equipment.
• Don’t leave appliances charging unsupervised for a long time.
• Don’t charge a battery that looks damaged.
• Don’t cover up items when charging, as they emit heat, and keep them away from flammable materials.
• Don’t leave appliances and equipment running overnight or when no one is in the office; make sure they are properly switched off and don’t have timer settings activated that could make them come back on when no one’s around.
• Don’t overload sockets – outlets, extension leads, and adaptors have a limit to how many amps they can take.
• Keep an eye out for burn marks or stains around plug sockets, which suggest overheating.
• Keep an eye out for frayed or worn cables and wires.
• Keep an eye out for flickering lights, blown fuses, or circuit-breakers that trip for no apparent reason.
• Always switch off your equipment at the mains when it’s not in use and unplug where appropriate.
• Always ensure that damaged cable sections are properly replaced – don’t simply repair them with insulating tape.
• Report faulty equipment and take it out of use immediately.

Waste build-up

• Keep walkways and fire exit routes clear of flammable materials, such as cardboard boxes, paper, fabrics, etc.
• Make sure it is correctly disposed of/recycled away from the premises.

A fire hazard could develop at any time. As well as following these rules, remember to look out for any new fire hazards by performing a daily check of your workplace.

You can learn more fire safety tips by reading our article Top 10 Fire Safety Tips in the Workplace. 

Remember, everyone plays a part in keeping their office safe, and following these simple prevention rules will help to ensure that no one has to face the flames of a fire or its devastating after-effects.

Further Resources:

• Fire Safety Quiz
• Information about the Fire Triangle & Tetrahedron
• Understanding the Different Types and Uses of Fire Extinguishers 
• What Does PASS Stand For? Fire Extinguisher Use and Safety
• Workplace Health and Safety Quiz for Employees
• Fire Extinguisher Quiz
• Fire Safety Signs
• Fire Risk Assessment Template
• Fire Risk Assessment Training

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In this article, we will explain what safe systems of work are, how to design and implement them in your workplace and how they work to reduce the risk of harm, as well as providing some examples of safe systems of work in the workplace.

What are Safe Systems of Work?

A safe system of work (SSoW) is a procedure, or set of procedures, that explains exactly how a work task should be carried out, to make it as safe as possible for the person completing it and those around them. It is a legal requirement for employers and must be put in place whenever a work task involves hazards that cannot be eliminated, thereby posing a risk to the safety of the employee. 

SSoWs should be based on the findings of a workplace’s risk assessment. An effective risk assessment identifies the hazards and risks in a workplace and evaluates whether they can be sufficiently controlled through engineering measures, or if a SSoW is required. While SSoWs are not a replacement for the other control measures included in the hierarchy of control, they are necessary when these measures alone do not provide adequate protection from risk. 

A SSoW should be completed by a competent person, meaning they have the knowledge, training and experience required to understand the nature of the task being considered for a SSoW. 

The specific requirements for designing a SSoW will depend on an organisation’s needs and industry regulations. The higher risk the activity being performed, the more detailed a SSoW should be. For very low risk activities, it may be sufficient to distribute a SSoW orally, though it is best practice to have all SSoWs in writing. If a task is particularly high-risk, a permit-to-work may be required. 

Safe System of Work vs Permit-to-Work

A permit-to-work is a type of SSoW that allows only certain individuals to carry out a specific task within a defined time frame. 

The following work tasks are considered to be high-risk and would therefore require a permit-to-work: 

• Hot work.
• Cold work. 
• Chemical work. 
• Working at height.
• Working in confined spaces. 

This list is by no means exhaustive and a competent person is needed to determine whether a task requires a permit to work.

Like a standard SSoW, a permit to work is based on the findings of a risk assessment and establishes the safety precautions needed to carry out a task safely. However, it also requires declarations from a number of individuals, including those authorising the task and those carrying it out. The person carrying out the work must also complete a request form which must then be approved by a competent person. 

A permit to work should include: 

• The type of work carried out. 
• The location of the task. 
• Details of the hazards that are present. 
• Proposed methods for completing the task safely. 
• Who can authorise the task.
• Plant and equipment used. 
• Safety precautions required. 
• Length of time required to complete the task. 
• Conditions that must be met on completion of the task. 
• PPE requirements. 

Safe System of Work vs Method Statement

A method statement is a written document that sets out the step-by-step process for completing a task safely, as determined by a SSoW. It includes risks identified through the risk assessment and the measures that will be taken to manage those risks. A method statement is intended for use by the person carrying out the task, meaning it should clearly and concisely explain how that task is to be carried out. 

A SSoW contains additional information to the method statement that is not required by the person carrying out the task for them to complete it safely. For example, as well as outlining the process for safely carrying out a task and emergency procedures, a SSoW should also include information on the procedures for monitoring and updating the SSoW. 

This extraneous information could create confusion in the person carrying out the task and increase the risk of human error. For this reason, the method statement is useful because it only contains information the person completing the task needs to know to be safe. 

An effective method statement should outline:

• The location of work.
• A step-by-step description of the work and method to be used. 
• Specific hazards relating to the task. 
• The plant and/or equipment to be used. 
• Control measures, including any PPE required. 
• Emergency procedures (including entry and exit procedures).

You should avoid using complicated ‘jargon’ when writing a method statement as it is essential that anyone who may perform the task can read, understand and follow it easily. This reduces the likelihood of misinterpretation or misunderstanding that could lead to harmful errors when completing a task. 

A method statement can be presented in a variety of ways, depending on what best describes the task at hand. Some examples include: 

• Step-by-step instructions. 
• Decision aids.
• Checklists. 
• Diagrams. 
• Flow charts. 

When deciding on the best format for a method statement, you should consult those who will be completing the task to find out how they prefer to receive information and direction, as they will be the ones using the SSoW and need to understand it. It’s important to monitor whether method statements are actually being used in your workplace and if they aren’t, then they may need to be revised. 

Unlike SSoWs, method statements are not a legal requirement for employers. However, because they make SSoWs clearer and more accessible to workers, method statements are a vital tool for ensuring health and safety in the workplace. It is therefore good practice for all SSoWs to be documented in a method statement, though this is particularly important for higher-risk activities. 

If you’d like to learn more about method statements, including how to write one, why not check out our article ‘What is a Method Statement and How Do I Fill it in?’ which includes a free, downloadable method statement template. 

Safe System of Work Examples

Safe systems of work are used in a number of different industries, particularly those where high-risk work is regularly carried out, such as the construction industry. However, they may also be needed in industries where the hazards are not as obvious, for example in supermarkets or restaurants. For this reason, completing a risk assessment is essential for identifying where SSoWs are needed. 

A safe system of work is a combination of physical controls, procedures, plans, training and information that provides a safe work environment or a safe work activity for all employees. For example, SSoWs include:

• Safe Place of Work. The work environment should be safe and not pose risks to health or safety for the work activities that will be undertaken. For example, there should be adequate lighting, access, and ventilation. 
• Safe Work Equipment. The safe system of work should include the selection of the most suitable type of work equipment and/or substance by an experienced manager, with the advice of a specialist company where necessary.
• Safe Substances for Use at Work. The safe system of work should only allow the safest substances possible. This may mean substituting dangerous, flammable, or toxic substances, such as chemicals or gases, for safer alternatives. 
• Safe Management, Supervision, and Monitoring. Managers, supervisors, those who plan the work, and other duty holders should be competent in their duties. This includes an understanding of the hazards and risks involved with the work activities and work environment, and how to safely supervise and monitor activities.
• Safe Workers. Employees and any others undertaking work activities must be fully trained in the safe system of work, including any work equipment, use of substances, and rescue arrangements. For example, workers are given training before using a dangerous piece of machinery, such as an excavator. 

This list is by no means exhaustive. Whenever there is a risk of harm involved in performing a work task, regardless of what that task is or the industry it is taking place in, a safe system of work should be put in place to keep workers safe from harm. 

Why Does My Business Need a Safe System of Work?

It is a legal requirement for employers to implement SSoWs in their workplace where there is an unavoidable risk of harm. The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 requires employers to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work. This includes providing and maintaining systems of work that are, as far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health. 

If a high-risk task is performed incorrectly because there is not an effective SSoW in place, this may not only put the person completing the task at risk of harm, but others as well.  Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers are also required to ensure that their activities do not harm the health, safety and welfare of anyone not in their employment that may result from their employees’ work activities, as far as is reasonably practicable.

Employers also have a moral responsibility to ensure safety in their workplace, both to their employees and others in the environment. If an employee is not fully informed on how to perform tasks safely, despite how hard they may try to do so, there is still a significant risk of human error leading to incidents and harm. Employers must do all that they can to provide employees with the tools and information they need to be safe at work. 

Looking to Learn More?

Safe systems of work are just one of the ways to manage workplace risk. We offer a range of health and safety courses that provide employers and employees with the knowledge required to effectively manage risk by implementing the appropriate control measures for the activity at hand. These include our Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) course, our Working at Height course and our Working in Confined Spaces course.

How to Develop a Safe System of Work

There are a number of key requirements for an effective safe system of work. They should: 

• Include a brief description of the scope of the task to be undertaken. An effective SSoW should only look at one specific task or activity. 
• Identify all potential hazards involved in performing each step of the task, as well as the task as a whole. 
• Provide step-by-step instructions for how to complete the task that cover the task from beginning to end. 
• Outline the safety measures in place to protect against each hazard identified – for example PPE. 
• Be readily available and accessible for anyone who needs them. 

When it comes to developing a SSoW for a task, there are a number of key steps involved. These are outlined below. 

Step 1: Assessing Tasks and Identifying Hazards

The first step of creating a SSoW is to identify work tasks where the risk of harm cannot be eliminated. This should be achieved by performing a risk assessment of the whole workplace and the activities taking place there. 

While a workplace risk assessment should be carried out by a competent person, meaning they have the appropriate knowledge, experience and skills, it is vital that the employees are consulted during this process. As they are the ones most often carrying out the tasks, they are best placed to know exactly how the task is performed and, therefore, what the associated risks are, some of which management may not be aware of or could overlook. 

When looking at individual tasks, it can be useful to consider the following: 

• The equipment and/or materials used for a task – considering whether the resources used are safe, or if they could be substituted for safer materials. 
• Who performs the work – looking out for foreseeable human error that may relate to gaps in knowledge and/or skill. 
• Where the task is performed – looking for environmental hazards that may need to be eliminated. 
• How the task is performed – looking for risks that may arise in the established process for completing the task, that may require a change in the process. 

After assessing each task, with input from the workers, you should be able to recognise the hazards and associated risks involved in performing it. Make a list of all potential hazards involved in each task. 

For each task, you should determine: 

• Possible causes of harm. 
• The likelihood that this harm will occur. 
• What safeguarding measures can be taken to reduce the risk of harm as far as is reasonably practicable. 

Once the hazards have been identified, you should try to eliminate them as far as possible. A SSoW should not be implemented where a hazard could instead be eliminated or avoided, it should only be used when elimination of the hazard is not reasonably practicable.

Step 2: Defining Safe Systems of Work

The best way to manage a risk is to eliminate, or, where this is not possible, to substitute the hazard or implement engineering controls to physically protect workers it, effectively removing the hazard. Where none of these can be achieved, and therefore the risk of harm from the hazard can’t be eliminated, safe systems of work must be established to manage this risk as far as is reasonably practicable. 

SSoWs are less effective than the other safety measures mentioned above for managing risk because SSoWs do not stop a worker coming into contact with a hazard and its associated risks. However, they are intended to reduce the level of risk posed to workers when interacting with hazards. 

A certain task may have a number of possible precautions that could be put in place to make it safer and identifying the most effective can be a challenge. This is why it’s important to consult with your workforce when establishing SSoWs. It’s important to consider which precautions your employees find most practical, as well as what will be most practical to implement logistically and financially. However, you must remember that safety is always the priority.

The process of defining a SSoW includes: 

• Determining whether authorisation is required for individuals to perform a task.
• Considering any preparation required to set up the task and conditions that must be ensured. 
• Defining a step-by-step procedure for completing the task, including identifying the hazards involved. 
• Identifying safe work methods. 
• Outlining safe means of entry and exit, including escape, where necessary. 
• Considering procedures required after a job is completed, such as dismantling equipment, disposing of dangerous materials or locking machinery. 

Step 3: Implementing the Safe System of Work

SSoWs cannot be effective safety measures in and of themselves, rather, they need to be understood and implemented fully by those carrying out the work. Some individuals may be tempted to ignore SSoWs if they are overly complex, so it’s essential that they are easy to read and concise, and only containing the key information workers need to know to complete a task safely. 

There is no one specific way to introduce and implement a SSoW in your workplace and the process can be formal or informal, depending on the level of risk involved in the task. A formal implementation may involve producing documentation which is then distributed among employees, such as a standard operating procedure (SOP). A less formal implementation may involve putting diagrams next to machinery to explain exactly how it should be used or putting on training for specific processes. 

It is good practice to provide employee training every time a new SSoW is introduced to ensure that employees understand it and can implement it effectively. If employees are struggling to understand any part of the SSoW, this also gives you the opportunity to make changes or provide additional upskilling. Any training undertaken by employees in relation to SSoWs should be recorded and competency tests performed where appropriate. 

It’s vital that your employees understand why SSoWs are being implemented, otherwise they may be inclined to ignore them or not complete them properly. For this reason, your training may include an explanation of how exactly SSoWs contribute to workplace safety. Toolbox talks are an effective addition to formal training for cementing health and safety knowledge in the construction and trades industry. You can learn more about toolbox talks in our article, here. 

It is equally important that your managers and supervisors are trained on SSoW procedures, as they are the ones who will be implementing and maintaining the SSoWs so must understand them fully. 

It is also helpful to give each of your SSoWs a unique reference number so that they can be easily written into risk assessments and workers know which SSoW to refer to for specific tasks. 

Step 4: Monitoring the Safe System of Work

You should monitor your SSoW as soon as it is implemented to identify whether it is having the intended effect – i.e. managing risks and increasing safety. It’s also vital that this monitoring is continual as, while a SSoW may be effective when it is first implemented,certain factors may cause it to lose effectiveness, meaning it no longer manages risk as it once did. 

For example, if you need to introduce a new material to a process due to changes in industry regulations, this may introduce new hazards and associated risks that the existing SSoW is not designed to manage. This would require a change to the SSoW to ensure that it can manage those risks. 

Effective monitoring of SSoWs ensures that: 

• Employees continue to find the SSoW usable. 
• Employees are performing the SSoW properly and it is still effective for managing risk. 
• Changes in the nature of the task (or other circumstances) that necessitate a change to the SSoW are identified and implemented as soon as possible. 

Particularly when performing a task they do often, employees may be tempted to ignore the SSoW in place for that activity, thinking that they know exactly how to do it already. As well as ensuring employees understand a SSoW, it is also vital that you can ensure they are complying with it, including every step and detail. This is best achieved through a combination of monitoring, regular inspections or checks and supervision. 

Monitoring SSoWs allows you to identify when changes need to be made to the SSoW so they can continue to effectively manage risk. The following list outlines some circumstances where changes to SSoWs may be required: 

• If a step in the process needs to be changed for any reason. 

• When new machinery or equipment is introduced to an organisation and/or process. 
• When new materials are introduced or the formulation of a product changes. 
• If an accident or incident occurs during work – this indicates that your SSoW is ineffective or that employees are not using it correctly or at all, meaning changes are necessary. 
• When there are changes to working patterns or staff involved in a SSoW. 
• There are relevant changes to legislation or industry regulations.

Even if a change seems minor, it is important to always consider if it may affect the effectiveness of your SSoWs.

The details of how a SSoW should be monitored and by who should be stated as part of the SSoW documentation, as well as communicated to and understood by the individuals responsible for monitoring. 

Having effective safe systems of work in place ensures that employees perform tasks in the safest way possible each and every time. This drastically reduces the risk of accidents and incidents occurring that could lead to harm. Effective safe systems of work, that are regularly maintained and updated, are therefore an essential part of any safe and healthy workplace.

Further Resources:

• How to Conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment: Free Template
• Working in Confined Spaces Hazards and Control Measures 
• Electrical Safety Training

The post What are Safe Systems of Work? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

It’s vital that every type of workplace has at least one suitably stocked first aid kit on site. This will ensure that if one of your employees falls ill or becomes injured at work, they can receive the appropriate first aid, using the correct equipment, as soon as possible – giving them the best chance of recovery. 

In this article, we will outline what should be included in every basic workplace first aid kit and consider additional contents that may be required for workplaces with higher-level hazards. We have also provided a free, editable workplace first aid kit checklist that you can use to ensure that your first aid kit is always suitably stocked.

What Should Be In a First Aid Kit at Work?

First aid arrangements are a legal requirement for all businesses, and this includes having adequate first aid equipment available at all times. 

As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that your employees can receive immediate first aid treatment, should they become ill or injured at work. Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, you must ensure that your workplace first aid provisions are adequate and appropriate for your particular workplace, based on its circumstances. 

Your legal responsibility only extends to providing adequate and appropriate first aid provisions for your employees. However, the HSE strongly recommends that you also extend a duty of care to anyone else who enters your premises, including members of the public. This means that you should also take them into consideration when performing your needs assessment and deciding the first aid provisions required for your workplace. 

At a minimum for all workplaces, you have a duty to provide your workplace with: 

• A sufficiently-stocked basic first aid kit in your workplace, as well as any additional contents needed, specific to your workplace. You must also provide adequate first aid facilities and trained staff, where a need for this is identified. 
• An appointed person whose responsibility it is to ensure that the workplace first aid kit(s) is always suitably stocked and to call the emergency services when necessary.
• Information on the details of your workplace first aid arrangements for all employees. 

First Aid Needs Assessment

To determine whether your workplace needs additional first aid kit contents, along with first aid facilities and trained staff required, you must perform a first aid needs assessment of your workplace.

A first aid needs assessment is an assessment performed by an appropriately trained and competent person, ideally the employer. During a needs assessment, you will consider the circumstances of your workplace, your workforce and any risks and hazards present. From your findings, you can then identify the first aid provisions required in your workplace. 

Looking to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about first aid needs assessments, including how to complete one for your workplace, you can read our article: How to Complete a First Aid Needs Assessment, which contains a free template.

When deciding your first aid needs, including your first aid kit contents, you need to consider the nature of work being carried out in your workplace, and the associated risk. Performing a risk assessment will help to identify potential hazards and the level of risk associated with them. Every business should carry out a regular risk assessment. 

Your risk assessment will help you to identify the hazards and level of risk in your workplace, based on the number of hazards. In a low-risk workplace (such as an office or shop), there are only a small number of hazards present that could cause illness or injury. 

For this reason, a basic first aid kit is sometimes found to be a suitable provision for low-level hazard workplaces, along with an appointed person and first-aid information provided to employees. 

Higher-level hazard workplaces (such as factories or construction sites) will generally require a greater level of first aid provisions than low-level hazard workplaces, such as specialised first aid equipment, as there are more hazards and risks that could lead to injury or illness.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because your workplace may be considered to have low-level hazards, incidents leading to injury or illness can still occur there, so performing a first aid needs assessment is vital. To learn more about the incidents that can occur in low-level hazard workplaces, check out our article on common office injuries, here. 

How Many First Aid Kits Do I Need?

The number of employees in your workplace must also be taken into consideration when deciding necessary first aid provisions. Generally speaking, larger workforces will require more first aid kits and equipment. 

The British Standard BS 8599 provides guidance on the recommended size and number of workplace first aid kits you should have, as well as their contents, based on the nature of work being carried out and size of the workforce. 

For low-level hazard workplaces: 

• If there are less than 25 employees: provide one small kit. 
• If there are 25 – 100 employees: provide one medium-sized kit. 
• If there are more than 100 employees: provide one large kit per every 100 employees. 

For higher-level hazard workplaces:  

• If there are less than 5 employees: provide one small kit. 
• If there are 5-25 employees: provide one medium-sized kit. 
• If there are more than 25 employees: provide one large kit per every 25 employees. 

The number of first aid kits you have in your workplace should also depend on the size of your workplace, even if you only have a small number of employees. If your workplace is very large – for example consisting of several floors or sites – it’s best practice to provide a first aid kit for each of these areas. These kits should be easy to identify and access so that first aiders don’t need to waste precious time searching for them. 

If you’d like more specific guidance on the size and number of first aid kits you need in your workplace, take a look at our article, here. 

Note that you can buy pre-packed first aid kits that conform to the British Standard (BS) 8599. However, your kit doesn’t need to meet this standard by law. 

Additionally, if you have employees who work remotely or frequently travel for work, you must also ensure you meet their first aid needs requirements. This could mean providing them with a travel first aid kit or ensuring that they make or buy their own. Schools are required to have travel first aid kits for any excursions from the main site. 

Every workplace is different and will have different needs. It’s your responsibility to ensure that your first aid kit contains what you’ve identified in your first aid needs assessment.

Basic First Aid Kit Items

While all workplaces are required to have a suitably stocked first aid kit, there is no mandatory list of items that must be included in one. Fortunately, your first aid needs assessment will help you to identify the specific needs of your workplace. 

To help you put together your workplace first aid kit, we will go through a list of items that should be included in a basic first aid kit. This should only be used as a basis for your workplace first aid kit, with extra provisions being added based on the findings of your first aid needs assessment. 

First Aid Guidance Leaflet

In a higher-level hazard workplace, the person providing first aid in your workplace is most likely to be a trained first aider, meaning they have the skills and knowledge required to administer aid for a range of different injuries and illnesses. 

Including a leaflet on general first aid in your workplace first aid kit provides essential guidance and acts as a useful reminder for what each piece of equipment or materials can and should be used for when treating an ill or injured person. 

Looking for a Course?

Providing employees with theoretical first aid training, at a minimum, will help to ensure that they always know how to use the basic first aid equipment included in a first aid kit. Our Workplace First Aid course gives you the confidence to recognise and respond to a variety of illnesses and injuries, including emergency situations, quickly and correctly.

Additionally, if someone is providing first aid in an emergency situation and they aren’t sure what to do next, they should always consult the emergency services on 999 or 112. For non-emergencies, NHS 111 can be called for professional guidance.

Sterile Dressings

There are various types of wound dressing, appropriate for treating a range of injuries, from bleeding wounds to fractures. You should have a variety of wound dressings in your first aid kit, including, at a minimum:

• 20 individually wrapped, sterile plasters of assorted sizes, including hypoallergenic options: these are useful for small wounds such as abrasions or shallow cuts. 
• Individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings, 6 medium sized and 2 large sized: dressing pads attached to a roller bandage are best as these are easy to apply, making them effective for use in time-dependent, emergency situations.
• 2 sterile eye pads: these should be used to protect eye injuries from infection.

If you work with food, you should include blue plasters in your first aid kit, as these can be seen easily if they fall into the food. 

Bandages

Bandages can be used to secure wound dressings, keep pressure on wounds, manage swelling and support joint injuries. 

At a minimum, your workplace first aid kit should contain two individually wrapped triangular bandages. These can be used to make slings for injured limbs and, if sterile, as dressings for wounds and burns. 

Depending on your workplace circumstances, your kit may also need to include:

• Roller bandages: these come in four types; conforming, open-weave, support and self-adhesive.
• Tubular bandages: small versions of these can be used to secure dressings for injuries to fingers and toes, while larger, elasticated versions are used to support injured joints, for example the knees or elbows. 

You should also include at least 6 safety pins in your first aid kit, for securing the ends of bandages. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All first aid kits should contain at least three pairs of disposable gloves, preferably latex-free. Where possible, these should be worn when providing any form of first aid, but particularly when dressing wounds or handling bodily fluids or other waste materials. 

In higher-risk workplaces, your needs assessment may identify the need for additional first aid PPE, for example, pocket masks or plastic face shields for performing CPR with rescue breaths. As only trained first aiders should perform CPR with rescue breaths, in workplaces that do not require a trained first aider, this provision may not be deemed necessary. 

Disposable aprons are another form of PPE that can be included in a first aid kit to prevent the spread of infection through bodily fluid or other waste. 

It’s important to note that, when deciding whether to put on PPE before administering first aid, the severity of the casualty’s illness or injury must be taken into account, along with the availability of PPE. In a time-dependent, emergency situation, such as a case of severe bleeding or cardiac arrest, you do not have time to go looking for PPE if it isn’t close to hand and administering first aid at once must take priority. 

Remember, this is only a suggested list of first aid kit content and the contents of your particular workplace first aid kit should be determined by the findings of your first aid needs assessment. 

Additional First Aid Kit Contents

As previously discussed, the findings of your first aid needs assessment may reveal the need for additional first aid kit contents, depending on the nature of work, the workplace and workforce. If you have a higher-level hazard workplace, for example one where heavy machinery or chemicals are used, you will require additional contents to ensure your employees can be treated for a range of illnesses or injuries, if needed. 

Below, we have suggested some additional contents that may be beneficial in your workplace first aid kit. However, it’s important to remember that every workplace is different and so are the hazards within them. As an employer you are best informed to know what first aid kit provisions your workplace would benefit from. 

Depending on the circumstances of your workplace, your first aid kit may also need to include: 

• Scissors to cut bandages or dressings to size, to cut adhesive tape, or to cut through clothing to reach a wound. 
• Cleansing wipes to clean around a wound. 
• Gauze pads to pad a wound. 
• Adhesive tape to stick dressings to skin or stick down the ends of bandages.
• An aluminium blanket to keep a casualty warm if necessary, for example if the casualty has gone into shock.  
• Hand sanitisers and/or wipes to reduce the risk of spreading infection during and after administering first aid. 
• Ice packs and heating pads to treat soft tissue injuries, such as sports injuries.
• Burn gels and dressings are particularly important in workplaces with a high risk of burns, such as the hospitality industry. 
• Eye wash is required if a hazardous substance enters the eye, such as a chemical. If your workplace doesn’t have mains tap water, your kit should include at least one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline (0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers. In some high-level hazard workplaces, where there is a substantial risk of this, such as in a laboratory, may have eye bath stations. 
• Tweezers can be used to remove splinters, tics, etc.

Workplace First Aid Kit Checklist

We have provided you with a free, downloadable and editable workplace first aid kit contents checklist that can be used in your workplace by your appointed person. They can use the first aid kit checklist to ensure that your workplace first aid kit is always suitably stocked in case an employee, or anyone else in that environment, becomes unwell or injured at work. 

We have included the basic first aid kit contents covered in this module in the checklist – however, it is editable so that you can add any additional equipment required for your particular workplace, as identified by your first aid needs assessment. 

If the nature of your workplace circumstances changes, you should perform a new needs assessment and, if it identifies any new first aid equipment needed in your workplace, you should add this to the checklist and your first aid kit. 

You can download the checklist using the button below:

Knowing how to perform first aid, through theoretical and practical training, can mean the difference between life or death for someone suffering a medical emergency. However, without the proper first aid equipment available close to hand, first aiders will struggle to administer this aid, and the casualty could deteriorate. It is therefore essential that you have a suitably stocked first aid kit in your workplace to keep your employees as safe as possible.

What to Read Next:

• Workplace First Aid Quiz 
• How Many First Aiders Do I Need In My Workplace? 
• First Aid Qualifications: The Difference Between FAW and EFAW
• How to Support Individuals After Giving First Aid Assistance
• What are the Responsibilities of a First Aider?

The post What Should Be In A First Aid Kit? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

• Guidance for First Aid Kits in the Workplace
• What Should Be Included In Your Workplace First Aid Box?
• How Many First Aiders Do I Need In My Workplace?
• How to Conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment: Free Template
• Paediatric First Aid Quiz
• Workplace Health and Safety Quiz for Employees
• How to Support Individuals After Giving First Aid Assistance
• What are the Responsibilities of a First Aider?
• Workplace First Aid Training

The post Workplace First Aid Quiz appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

As an employer you are legally responsible for creating a healthy and safe workplace by identifying potential dangers and preventing them from causing harm. In this article, we will outline the most common office injuries and how you can go about preventing them, in order to keep everyone in your workplace safe and well.

What are the Most Common Office Injuries?

Each workplace comes with its own set of dangers that could cause its employees, or anyone else who enters the premises, harm. While the possible causes of injury in an office may not be as obvious as in some other workplaces – such as on a construction site or in a kitchen – serious injuries can and do occur. 

Because the dangers in an office environment aren’t always obvious, employees and employers alike may not be on the lookout for them or fail to recognise them, which is how injuries occur. As an employer, then, while it is your responsibility to identify and prevent causes of injuries, you should also ensure your employees are able to do the same, in order to keep them as safe as possible. 

You can test your ability to identify office-based hazards using our Office Health and Safety Quiz, here. 

The following list outlines the most common causes of office injuries and ways to prevent them from happening. You should look for these hazards in your own workplace so you can take steps to prevent them from causing injuries to anyone in your office. 

Slips, Trips and Falls

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces. They can also lead to more serious incidents occurring, such as a fall from height. 

When considering hazards in your workplace that could lead to slips, trips and falls, think about: 

• Slippery surfaces: is there anything that builds up outside your office building that could lead someone to slip, such as water when it rains, piles of leaves, mud or ice? Does mopping the inside of the office take place when staff members are still walking around? 
• Uneven surfaces: are there any changes in surfaces that may be hard to spot, such as small slopes or steps in entryways? Are there any potholes or uneven paving outside that someone could trip on? 
• Trip hazards: does your office space often become cluttered? Are there trailing cables, rubbish or anything else on the floor that someone could trip on? Do office deliveries get left in the doorway? Are the carpets and mats secure or are the edges curling and is there any loose or cracked tiling, particularly in bathrooms or kitchens where they could easily also become wet? 
• Handrails: a suitable handrail is essential for all stairways as it can prevent someone from tripping on the stairs and, on landings, they can also prevent a fall from height. Are your office’s handrails easy for all employees to reach and use?

Preventing Slip, Trip and Fall Injuries

To reduce the likelihood of someone being injured by a slip, trip or fall in your office, you should:

• Keep the office clear of clutter: encourage staff to keep wires organised and under their desk and if deliveries are usually left in your entryway, designate a specific area for them that is out of the way of foot-traffic. Make sure to provide enough rubbish bins to avoid litter on floors. 
• Clean entryways regularly: remove any water or debris that could cause slips on a daily basis. Consider implementing a specific winter cleaning procedure, including regular gritting if your entryways are prone to ice. Place floor mats at the entrances to the office to stop water, mud or other slippery substances from entering. 
• Highlight subtle changes in floor levels: you could use lighting or contrasting paint to highlight any slopes or steps that are difficult to see. 
• Fix floor damage as soon as possible: this includes damage inside the premises, such as to tiles, carpets and mats and any potholes or broken surfaces outside. Cordon these areas off until they can be fixed.
• Where possible, use slip-resistant materials for your office floors: this is particularly important on stairs and fire escapes. 
• Ensure cleaning schedules are aligned with staff safety: make sure floors are not mopped until all staff have left the office and that equipment and processes are effective. Using the wrong tools or techniques to clean can lead to slippery floors. 
• Implement a ‘see it, sort it’ policy among staff for spillages and trip hazards: you need to make sure you provide them with the necessary equipment to do this, such as mop buckets, cleaning cloths, etc. 

Looking to Learn More?

Our Office Health and Safety course teaches you how to identify health and safety risks in an office environment and what employees can do to prevent their work and behaviour from causing them, or others, harm.

Improper Use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

DSE refers to electronics including computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. By law, employers must protect their employees from health risks created by working with DSE if those workers use DSE for more than one hour a day. In an office setting, this is likely to be the case for most employees. 

DSE related injuries are mainly caused by having an unsuitable desk layout, an uncomfortable chair or needing to bend and reach your body into uncomfortable positions. 

Having an incorrect DSE setup or using the setup incorrectly can lead to health problems, some of which you may not notice right away, including: 

• Pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, back, hands and wrists. This pain can develop into more serious long-term conditions, like carpal tunnel syndrome. 
• Musculoskeletal disorders affecting the bones, joints and/or muscles.
• Eye strain, potentially leading to tired eyes, headaches and even temporary vision problems. 
• Stress and/or fatigue, which could increase the risk of employees having incidents that cause further injury. 

If you’d like to learn how to perform a thorough DSE risk assessment, check out our article which provides you with a free DSE risk assessment template, here. 

Preventing DSE Injuries

As an employer of DSE users, you are required to fulfil certain duties to keep your employees safe from harm while using DSE. These duties include: 

• Performing an assessment of employees’ DSE setup (including for remote workers). Check out our article on how to perform a workspace assessment, here. 
• Providing eye tests for workers who want one. 
• Providing training and information on the proper setup and use of DSE for employees. 
• Scheduling annual refresher training and/or assessments to ensure employees are maintaining safe practices. 

You must also implement proportionate control measures to reduce the risks workers face to their health when using DSE. These may include: 

• Allowing employees to take regular breaks from using DSE. 
• Accommodating for any special requirements a staff member may require, such as foot or wrist rests or a laptop stand.  
• Providing ergonomic desk furniture and anti-glare monitor screens. 
• Providing adequate central lighting and task lighting at each workstation. 

Even if you provide your employees with all of the correct DSE equipment, if they don’t use it correctly, or don’t know how to, their health can still be harmed. This is why training staff on the risks of DSE and proper use of equipment is vital. 

DSE training should provide guidance on correct posture, how to adjust equipment and furniture, correct desk setup, breaks and suitable lighting. 

DSE Course

Our Display Screen Equipment (DSE) course teaches you about the health risks associated with DSE and how to set up your workspace to reduce the risk of harm, as well as how to follow safe practices when working with DSE.

Manual Handling

Manual handling is the transporting or supporting of a load by hand or using bodily force, including by lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, putting down and moving the load. 

While you may not think that any manual handling you do in an office would be enough to cause injury, just carrying a single cardboard box of papers incorrectly can be enough to do harm. 

Improper manual handling can lead to sprains and strains and injuries to most parts of the body, but particularly to the back, neck and hands. Over time, these can develop into more serious, long-term conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). 

Preventing Manual Handling Injuries

Manual handling should only be performed when no other option is available. Where it is necessary, there are some control measures that can be put in place to reduce the risk of injury to employees. When manual handling, employees should: 

• Only carry what they can lift comfortably, breaking things down into smaller loads where possible. 
• Carry heavier loads with another person. 
• Clear a path for themselves before carrying a load. 
• Use manual handling aids such as trolleys to perform the task. 

You should provide manual handling training for anyone who needs to perform it as part of their job role to teach them the correct handling techniques to avoid injury. 

Manual Handling Course

Our Manual Handling course teaches you the risks involved in manual handling and how to put control measures in place to prevent harm. It also provides practical guidance on how to safely carry out manual handling tasks which is beneficial for any employee who may need to perform manual handling at work.

Falls From Height

Falls from height can lead to serious injuries, including broken bones, fractures and head injuries, even in an office environment. In fact, a fall from as little as two metres can cause serious, even fatal injuries to the person involved. 

In an office, employees may be inclined to stand on a chair or desk to reach something high up instead of using proper equipment – particularly if they don’t know where to find that equipment. Unfortunately, these are often unstable and offer nothing to hold on to for support which can easily cause someone to lose their balance, resulting in a potentially serious injury. 

Falls from stairs are another common cause of injuries in offices and these can result from an initial slip or trip.

Preventing Fall From Height Injuries

To prevent falls from height, make sure that equipment for working from height, namely a proper ladder or stepladder, is available to employees and that they know where to find it, along with how to use it. You may need to provide employee training to achieve this.

While you can provide your employees with the correct tools for working safely at height, you cannot guarantee they will use them correctly. Providing training in working at height will make them aware of the risks and how to manage them, for example by teaching them best practice for using equipment.

Some safety tips when using ladders include maintaining three points of contact with it at all times (i.e. two feet and one hand) and never over-reaching on a ladder, as this can cause it to tip. You can test your knowledge of ladder safety in our article, here. 

To prevent falls on stairs, handrails are essential, as well as ensuring that each step is easy to see and the steps are well maintained and surfaced with slip-resistant material. We outline more control measures you can implement to prevent injuries to employees working at height in our article, here.

Electrical Accidents

Most office spaces are full of electrical equipment and it only takes a voltage as low as 50 volts to produce an electric shock. An electric shock can send a person into cardiac arrest, ultimately resulting in death unless that person receives CPR immediately. 

Even if an electric shock is not fatal, it can cause serious injuries, including: 

• Electrical burns. These are deep burns that can be permanently disabling. While burns are more common at higher voltages, they can still be caused by domestic electricity supplies when the current flows for more than a few fractions of a second. 
• Thermal burns. Thermal burns are caused by hot surfaces, such as those created by overloaded, faulty, poorly maintained or shorted electrical equipment. If electrics are allowed to get too hot, they can even explode or set on fire. 
• Muscle spasms. Electric shocks can produce strong muscle spasms that can be enough to break bones and cause dislocations. 

Electric shocks can also lead to further injury as they often cause the casualty to fall over which could cause a head injury or damage to other body parts on impact with the ground. 

Preventing Electrical Accident Injuries

You can prevent injuries caused by electrical equipment in your office by keeping equipment well maintained, including performing regular checks of equipment for any faults, such as exposed wires. 

You should also dispose of and replace any faulty equipment as soon as you discover it and ensure that all equipment has a PAT sticker to verify that it has been rested for electrical safety. 

Ensure that employees perform their own regular checks of equipment, particularly if they work from home and to flag any issues immediately – for example, if they think any of their equipment is overheating. You should also make sure that they are not overloading plug sockets as this can cause equipment to short, creating a risk of electric shock. 

Workplace First Aid Course

While many office injuries are preventable, unfortunately some will inevitably occur. Our Workplace First Aid course teaches you how to recognise various injuries and illnesses and provide the most appropriate first aid response for each, including in life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest.

As an employer, your responsibility is to protect those in your workplace from harm in any way you can. Being aware of the most common causes of injury in an office will allow you to implement control measures to prevent them from happening to your employees or anyone else who visits your place of work. 

Further Resources:

• Office Hazard Checklist for Health and Safety 
• Health and Safety When Working With Computers: An Office Guide 
• How to Conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment – Free Template 
• Slips, Trips and Falls Quiz
• Tips for Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Workplace
• Workplace First Aid Quiz
• What Are the Consequences Of Poor Health & Safety Procedures?

The post The Most Common Office Injuries and How To Prevent Them appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

All companies and places of work must have a qualified first aider, although the number of first aiders required will depend on the number of employees. If you are considering training to become a first aider, this article will offer some information about the role, highlight some of the responsibilities of a first aider and explain the desirable qualities of a good first aider.

Responsibilities of a First Aider

The role of a first aider is to provide initial medical assistance to someone who is sick or injured. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to provide sufficient care to the casualty themselves, otherwise they would continue to provide aid until the casualty is well enough to seek further treatment themselves or until the emergency services arrive. They also ensure that they and anyone else involved in the situation is kept safe.

A first aider is someone who has received practical training in first aid so that they become qualified to provide emergency first aid to someone who has become injured or ill at work. 

Employers will determine how many first aiders their workplace needs by doing a first aid needs assessment. If a low-hazard workplace has fewer than 25 employees, the HSE recommends that having one first aider may be enough, or that you may not need one at all. However, it is good practice to have at least one trained first-aider in any workplace as you never know when a life-threatening injury or illness could occur or what could cause it. 

If you’d like to learn more about first aid needs assessments, check out our article, How to Conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment. 

Being a first aider, therefore, carries a range of different and incredibly important responsibilities. If you are a trained first aider and you think someone needs your help, you have a number of responsibilities to adhere to. 

The main responsibilities of a first aider include being able to:

1. Assess a situation quickly and calmly to get an understanding of what happened. This involves determining whether anyone is in danger, the cause of the situation, and how many people are affected.
2. Protect yourself and others from any danger. You should look for any danger in the casualty’s environment and always protect yourself first, only moving the casualty if leaving them would cause more harm. If you are unable to remove a danger yourself, call 999 for emergency help before approaching the casualty.
3. Reassure the casualty and keep them informed. If the casualty is responsive, you should introduce yourself to them, explain what’s happening and why, and explain what you’re going to do before you do it.
4. Prevent infection. You should try to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser or disposable gloves before administering first aid. The personal protective equipment (PPE) you use will depend on the nature of the incident and what is available in your workplace’s first aid kit. Check out our article on what should be included in a first aid kit, here. However, if a casualty has a life-threatening condition and you do not have protective equipment to hand, administering first aid should take priority over looking for it. 
5. Assess the casualty. You should perform the primary and secondary survey to determine what may be wrong with the casualty and the most appropriate first aid response, including identifying any life-threatening conditions that must be treated first. 
6. Administer first aid treatment, such as CPR or applying pressure to bleeding wounds. If a casualty has a life-threatening injury or condition, this should be priorities before treating less serious ailments. 
7. Arrange further assistance, if necessary. Call 999 for an ambulance if it’s serious, or take/send them to a hospital if it’s serious but unlikely to get any worse. For less serious conditions, suggest calling 111 for further advice or that they see a doctor if they are concerned or if the condition worsens. You should always stay with them until they have received the necessary care or medical professionals take over.

Looking to Learn More?

Our Workplace First Aid course will teach you how to identify different illnesses and injuries using the primary and secondary survey and provide the appropriate first aid response, including life-saving care, giving you the confidence to act quickly in emergency situations. 

Qualities of a Good First Aider

There are a whole range of skills that are beneficial for a first aider to have that will allow them to deal with medical situations quickly and in the best way possible. 

Some qualities that make a good first aider include: 

• Communication skills: you must be able to communicate effectively with the injured person so they feel they can trust you and are reassured. By calming their panic you will make the situation a lot easier for you both. You also need to be able to communicate relevant information about the casualty to the emergency services to make their job as easy as possible. 
• The ability to work under pressure: the demands placed on a first aider can range anywhere from something small, like a nosebleed, to something a lot more serious, like a cardiac arrest. As a first aider you need to be prepared for any possibility and have the confidence to react quickly to the situation, while remaining calm – panicking will only make a situation worse. 

• Initiative and leadership: in an emergency situation, particularly a medical emergency, time can play a crucial role in the outcome. Being able to act quickly, take the lead, use your initiative and trust your judgement are all vital skills for providing effective first aid. 

• The ability to work in a team: as well as being able to lead, you must be able to work effectively as part of a team. You may need to work alongside the emergency services to ensure the casualty gets the correct care so being able to cooperate with them is vital. 
• Positivity: someone who always sees the glass as half-full, rather than half-empty is a prime candidate for a first aider. Positivity will help you to reassure the injured or unwell person and prevent you from becoming mentally drained by the job. 

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it is essential to consider your personal qualities alongside any technical abilities when considering whether or not to become a first aider. 

Illnesses or injuries can happen at any time, often without warning, which is why trained first aiders are an asset to every workplace. However, first aiders hold a great deal of responsibility and if you are thinking of becoming one, it is vital that you are committed to the role, the responsibilities you will need to undertake and the qualities you may need to develop. 

Further Resources: 

• Workplace First Aid Quiz
• Guidance for First Aid Kits in the Workplace 
• Workplace Health and Safety Quiz 
• First Aid Qualifications: The Difference Between FAW and EFAW
• How to Support Individuals After Giving First Aid Assistance
• Online First Aid Courses

The post What are the Responsibilities of a First Aider? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.