Why Refresher Training Is Just as Important as Initial Certification
As a manager or business owner, getting your employee training right means that everyone will be certified in the skills and safety procedures they need. This will ensure that your workplace is a safer space and that you are compliant with relevant regulations. However, this is not the end of the story, and continuing training, including refresher training, is an essential part of the process to ensure that everyone stays up to date with their knowledge and receives the most current information on best practices in their industry.
This applies whether you are looking at First Aid training or specialised, industry-specific training such as Working at Height or Safe Pass training, as refresher training is legally required and provides reassurance and peace of mind. Most certification requires refresher training after two to three years, and we can help you manage your training needs to get this right for your team.
Why Refresher Training Matters
Training courses are designed to equip you for specific situations and high-risk roles, so that you can work safely within your organisation, and this is helpful, but it is not the end of the line. Refresher training is just as important as the initial training course, because:
- It reinforces knowledge. A training course often involves learning a lot of information in a short time period, and this means that a lot of it may be forgotten in a short period of time, too. Studies have shown that a lot of what we learn is forgotten quickly if it is not regularly reinforced, and regular refresher courses serve to remind us of the basics and help us to remember what we need to know.
- Changes are common. Regular updates are standard in most industries as they strive to improve health and safety at work, and in the modern world, changes can be fast. Refresher training is vital to keep standards high and ensure compliance with the latest regulations and requirements in your industry, as well as making sure that your staff stay up to date with the latest developments.
- Confidence is key. When you are working, especially in a high-risk industry, it is essential to have confidence in your own skills and ability to manage difficult situations. Refresher training provides a confidence boost and shares the latest information and best practices, which will help to ensure that your team feels able to tackle whatever arises in the course of their work.
- It ensures a thorough approach. When you work in the same environment every day, it can be tempting to cut corners in an attempt to streamline processes, and this can compromise safety. Refresher training is a good way to remind your team of the reasons that it is essential to follow best practice and reinforces the best ways to do this, preventing complacency, which can be very dangerous in a working environment.
- It keeps everyone safer. It is your responsibility as an employer to keep everyone safe at work, and ongoing training is the best way to do this. Refresher training can reduce the risk of accidents in your organisation and improve compliance, which protects your reputation as well as your employees and members of the public who access your workplace.
- It contributes to a positive company culture. Employees who feel supported at work are much more likely to be productive and committed to the organisation, and prioritising refresher training shows a positive attitude to growth and is a great way to support your team. Ongoing training helps to create an atmosphere of accountability and professionalism and shows that you are committed to investing in your team, who are your greatest asset.
- It protects your reputation. Your reputation as a safe employer will have a positive effect on the employees you attract and on the ultimate outcomes of your business. Keeping up to date with ongoing training ensures that you are protected against legal or financial procedures that could harm your business, and will cement your reputation as a good employer running a watertight organisation. Certain practices, such as maintaining your safety documents and providing ongoing training, show that you can lead the way in best practice in your industry and set you apart as an organisation that cares for its employees.
Following a training schedule that allows for ongoing training for all employees is an essential way to support your team and improve outcomes across your organisation. A cohesive team that feels valued and supported at work will deliver better performance and help improve the company culture, setting you apart as a business that leads the way in your industry.
Top Quality Refresher Training in Ireland
At ASM, our goal is to collaborate with businesses in Ireland to enhance health and safety standards across all industries. We are committed to delivering high-quality training and refresher courses to achieve this objective. Our experienced team works with local, national and multi-national organisations to develop a stronger safety culture and keep you and your team safer at work. We deliver an extensive range of health and safety training courses, as well as specialist training for high-risk roles such as working in confined spaces and working at height, and these can be tailored to suit the unique requirements of your organisation.
Our services are designed to protect your business and the people who work for and with you, and we can provide independent Health and Safety Consultants and Safety Officers to carry out audits, gap analyses and safety assessments in your workplace. Our expert team of Health and Safety Consultants in Ireland can help you to transform the safety culture in your organisation and can work on a part-time or full-time basis, in a long-term or short-term capacity. Contact us today to find out more about working with us to protect your business and your team.
