When you are running or managing a business, it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve by keeping up with industry trends and ensuring your business is at the frontline of new developments. Here, we’ll take a look at the current trends in the health and safety industry that you should be aware of, and we’ll consider how these relate to IOSH Managing Safely, the qualification you need to maintain the highest of safety standards throughout your organisation.
Developments in Safety Training
It’s great news that serious incidents in the workplace are on the decline in Ireland, and we attribute this in part to increased awareness around health and safety at work and to better and more comprehensive training opportunities and requirements. Health and Safety training courses, such as IOSH Managing Safely, aim to prevent accidents and incidents in the workplace and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. This is an important way to protect personnel, property and the reputation of your business, which is a very important asset in any industry.
- Technology. As in many other areas of business, technology is an important consideration in the health and safety industry. It’s been a time of rapid expansion for the way technology is used to protect the workplace and employees, and this is reflected in the updated IOSH training courses we offer. We use interactive technology in our training, and we also ensure that we cover technology-based health and safety risks and situations.
- Mental health. Another area which has developed rapidly and has changed the way safety training is organised and delivered is mental health. While accidents at work have declined, overall health at work has been seen to worsen on a global scale. Much of this is due to the increased pressure employees come under in every industry, leading to stress and mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, which have a significant impact on individual employees, staff retention and the related costs to an organisation. High risks for employees to consider include the stress caused by job insecurity, the intensity of work pressures, work-life balance and harassment or bullying at work. Having programmes and policies in place to recognise the risks of mental illness and ensuring that you have a sound procedure to address these will help to tackle this potentially problematic issue.
- Zero-hour contracts. It is statistically more likely for employees on zero-hours contracts to be involved in accidents at work, and this may be due to inconsistency of training or being unfamiliar with established safety protocols. It is also important to note that women tend to be more likely to be put on this type of contract and to experience ill health that affects their work during times of recession, although women are generally less likely to experience a work-related injury than men. Shift work and variable working hours can be seen to increase the risk of workplace injuries and stress conditions, and this may be the result of disturbed sleep patterns and inconsistent safety training opportunities.
- New employees. Statistics show that new employees are much more likely to be injured at work than those who have been employed by the same organisation for a long period. This has implications for early training and comprehensive supervision for new employees, and regular safety training and refresher courses can make all the difference. Providing good quality health and safety training alongside training in their specific role can also help to ensure that new employees feel valued and supported within your organisation, increasing productivity and morale.
Taking care of your employees and your workplace is an essential role for those in management positions who are responsible for health and safety in your organisation. Keeping abreast of trends such as these will enable you to identify risks and ensure that comprehensive training is offered at the most effective times for all of your employees.
IOSH Managing Safely
IOSH Managing Safely is a comprehensive approach to align best practices in health and safety with your policies and is suited to managers and supervisors within your organisation. It is a high-impact, interactive safety training course that is designed to provide attendees with the knowledge and awareness they need to perform occupational health and safety duties in the workplace and manage their health and safety responsibilities throughout the organisation.
Anyone who is required to manage safety, risk and resources in the workplace should consider obtaining an IOSH Managing Safely Certificate, undertaking this three-day training to improve confidence in managing safety and risk in your organisation as well as understanding the implications of the legislation that governs your practice. IOSH is the largest membership body for Health and Safety professionals so this qualification is an excellent option for continuing professional development.
Health and Safety Training in Ireland
At ASM, we have many years of experience in delivering Health and Safety training to organisations of all types, and our expert professionals have a deep, practical understanding of the industries we work within. We offer a range of training courses and programmes to suit your industry and your organisation, and IOSH Managing Safely is just one of these. We also offer consultancy services and you can even outsource your Safety Officer role to our experts.
Our professional team of health and safety experts can help you protect your business, your workers and any visitors to your workplace, ensuring full compliance with all legislation that is relevant to your business and your industry. Talk to our Health and Safety Consultants in Ireland to find out more about how we can help you with all of your health and safety requirements.
