Step 7: Train your workforce

The law says you must train your employees and contractors to work safely, and clearly instruct them in their duties.

Everyone who works for you, including self-employed people, needs to know how to work safely and without risks to health. So you need to train them to be sure they know:

what 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. Some employees may have particular training needs, for example:

new recruits;
people changing jobs or taking on extra responsibilities;
young employees who are particularly vulnerable to accidents;
health and safety representatives.

You must keep records of all training to so that you can see when it might need to be repeated. You should consult workers or their representatives to make sure training is relevant and effective.

Training should be repeated from time to time if the work it relates to is only done occasionally. For example, if someone fills in for someone else when they are away; a process is not often done; or emergency procedures.