The International Labour Organisation (ILO) annually dedicates the 28th of April to World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The initiative originally began some 20 years ago in 2003. It is observed globally as an international campaign promoting safe and healthy work practices.KNW Training fully supports the ILO’s promotion of this day. It is an ideal opportunity to help raise awareness and seek the prevention of work-related accidents and ill health around the world.
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right in every workplace, and this ideal is the focus of World Day for Safety and Health 2023.
Building a Safe Working Environment
There are steps all employers can take to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all.
Assessing Risk
Employers are required by law to protect employees, and others, from harm. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum employers must do is:
- Identify what could cause injury or illness in their business (hazards)
- Decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk)
- Take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk
Managing Risk
Risk management is a step-by-step process for controlling health and safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace.
- Identify the hazards
- Assess the risks
- Control the risks
- Record the findings
- Review the controls
HSE provide some excellent resources to help assess and manage risk in the workplace. This HSE template is a great tool that can help streamline the process of identifying and assessing risk > HSE Risk Assessment Template
How Can We Help?
An ideal starting point is to ensure all employees are up to date with the required certifications to safely and competently carry out their job.
KNW has a vast portfolio of health and safety-related courses, from First Aid to Fire Marshalling, Working at Height to Confined Space Awareness. As a company, we also recognise the need to provide support and awareness of mental health issues, particularly in the workplace, and offer courses to do just that. We also recognise that sometimes off-the-shelf courses don’t quite meet a company’s or organisation’s needs. We have extensive experience in designing bespoke courses and workshops, geared directly to meet those unique, individual needs.
If you need any advice on courses or qualifications, please get in touch with our team, and we will be happy to guide you through the options available.