Legal duty
As with all industries, every employer in waste and recycling has a legal duty to ensure their employees are adequately trained for the work activity they carry out.
Relevant legislation applicable to training requirements includes:
- section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
- Regulation 9 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
General requirements
Everyone who is involved in a work activity should receive appropriate training:
- owners and employers
- managers and supervisors
- employees
It should also be recognised that some people may have particular or additional training needs, such as:
- new recruits
- people changing jobs or operating different plant and machinery
- people taking on extra responsibility
- young workers
- agency workers
- migrant workers (including making provision for non-English speakers)
When deciding what type of training requirements you may require and how that training might then be implemented, there are a number of significant steps in the process:
- evaluate what training your organisation needs
- prioritise your needs
- choose your training methods and resources (whether outsourced or in-house)
- ensure delivery of the training
- evaluate the training to ensure it has been effective and put a system in place for refresher training, if appropriate
General advice on who may need training, what form that training may take and how to organise it can be found in HSE’s guide on providing information, training and supervision.
National training standards
National standards for training and competence exist in many areas of the waste management and recycling industry within the National Vocational Qualifications framework.
These provide a verified set of competence standards for the industry. It is recommended that you use these standards, or other equally effective means, to ensure employees are competent.
There are a number of professional and training organisations that provide specific training courses for people who work in waste and recycling such as:
Vehicle and plant operator training
The training requirements for drivers of vehicles and plant (such as shovel loaders, excavators, forklift trucks and telehandlers) in a waste and recycling setting will be no different to other industry sectors. Driver competence is judged on the basis of:
- experience
- recognised training (formal training – either delivered in-house or externally)
- testing of knowledge and ability
No one should be allowed to drive (operate) a vehicle or plant unless their employer has ensured they are competent to do so.
The employer should not authorise a driver unless the driver has received adequate training and the employer is satisfied that the driver is competent to operate the particular type of vehicle or plant.
Requirements for fork-lift truck training are given in the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance on rider-operated lift trucks and training. There is clear guidance on:
- training course content
- testing
- standards for trainers (including recognising certain accrediting bodies to accredit and monitor organisations to train instructors and/or train, test and certificate operators in relation to fork-lift trucks)
Employers have to demonstrate they have either complied with the ACOP or in some other equal way.
Although the ACOP and guidance does not strictly apply to shovel loaders, excavators and other plant, the training principles and checklists outlined within it can be applied to other plant. Training for other vehicle types should be to a similar standard, using the ACOP and guidance as a benchmark.
Certificates of training from recognised training schemes help demonstrate competence, but employers are perfectly entitled to devise and operate their own in-house training schemes, particularly in some larger companies.
Where this is the case, they should have similar content to the more formal training courses that are available. They may also find it useful to have the courses delivered by an accredited training provider.
You can find more guidance on initial training for workplace transport.
First aid training
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations require employers to provide suitable first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel to enable immediate assistance to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work.
You can find general guidance on first aid at work.