Training and Vocational Qualifications (VQs)

What you need to do

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires employers to provide their employees with information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, their health and safety at work .
The self employed also have a duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also specify situations where health and safety training is particularly important, e.g. when people start work. There are a number of other regulations with specific training requirements, e.g. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER98) specifies the need for training for people who use work equipment.

What you need to know

Everyone at work needs to know how to work safely and without risks to health. So appropriate training enables workers to be know about the hazards and risks they may face, how to deal with them and any emergency procedures. Health and safety training should take place during working hours and must not be paid for by employees.

Businesses achieving high standards of health and safety at work give a high priority to health and safety training as part of their overall management approach to control risks.

Recognised standards of formal training and/or competence are normally required
for specific tasks or work activities such as using chainsaws, tree work, applying pesticides, driving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), fork-lift trucks or telescopic materials handlers, sheep dipping and first aid.

More general health and safety knowledge can be obtained by attending a training course leading a nationally recognised health and safety vocational qualification (VQ).

Vocational Qualifications

Health and safety VQs are specific to agriculture and horticulture and are available at
two levels of ability.  The qualifications are accredited by Ofqual onto the national Qualifications and Credit Framework. They aim to provide successful candidates with a good general knowledge of relevant health and safety issues.   The VQs should be supplemented with additional technical training for more specific operations e.g. for skills such as fork lift truck, chainsaw or ATV driving as necessary.

VQs will enable workers at all levels to:

• understand how incidents and ill health can affect both people and businesses;
• be aware of the main causes of incidents and ill health in the industry and how to prevent them;
• know the key elements of the law and where to get information and advice.

For the self-employed or managers, VQs will also help them:

• understand how to do risk assessments and tell workers of the outcomes;
• be aware of standards of training and competence for people in the industry;
• select contractors and work equipment to meet health and safety requirements;
• understand how health and safety fits in with the principles of good management.

Which VQ is right for me?

For information on VQs see www.lantra-awards.co.uk or www.nptc.org.uk.

Find out more

• INDG345 Health and safety training: A brief guide
• INDG427 Farmwise: Your essential guide to health and safety in agriculture