SME News September 2017

16 SME NEWS / September 2017 , Essential Skillz the global leader in online safety training and compliance software, offers advice and a customisable course, which examines how slips, trips and falls occur in different work environments, helping businesses navigate the costly consequences caused by these types of accidents in the workplace. Health and Safety Course Keeping SMEs Safe EssentialSkillz Slips, Trips, and Falls eLearning course explains what could be considered as workplace hazards, and looks at how these incidents occur in a variety of working environments. It identifies the importance of risk identification, accident prevention and good housekeeping procedures. The course also highlights the responsibilities of each employee to protect themselves and others, by following the relevant procedures. Obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a responsibility on the employer “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work” of all their employees. This includes protection of workers and the public from risks associated with slips, trips and falls. Performing a risk assessment by a qualified member of staff, in all workplace areas, will assist in identifying hazards and therefore, reducing the risk of accidents. A common-sense approach can significantly reduce the incidents of slips, trips and falls without adding significant business costs. For example, spillages should be cleared up immediately, wet floors can be identified by using appropriate signage, uneven levels can be accessed safely by use of ramps, handrails and adequate lighting, and poor lighting should be addressed immediately. Julian Roberts, CEO at EssentialSkillz, explains how businesses can benefit from this course: “During 2014/15, there were 611,000 self-reported workplace injuries. This included 76,054 non-fatal injuries and 198,000 self-reported injuries which led to over 3 days’ absence and 152,000 led to over 7 days absence. It is reported that slips and trips cost £512 million to employers per year, £133 million to the National Health Service and cause incalculable cost to human life. With this in mind, it is not an area of health and safety that employers and their workforce can afford to ignore. “Whatever sector you work in, your staff, customers, contractors and members of the public are all at risk from slips, trips and falls. Prevention can help reduce the number of injuries, the cost of your employer’s’ insurance and legal costs.” Slips, trips and falls occur in all industry sectors, so the eLearning course from EssentialSkillz can be customised to meet individual business needs, ensuring it is targeted and appropriate for each audience. This also takes into account the specific policies and procedures at each organisation. For no additional cost, a designated course administrator can edit the course content, and link to organisation-specific documentation. Overall, as SMEs face increasing pressures on their workforces and ever growing amounts of sickness leave, the need for health and safety training is greater than ever, and as such the course offers the ideal platform from which both staff and management for SMEs from across the corporate landscape can engage in safe and supportive practices which enhance their day to day operations.