Raise the bar – improve the delivery of health and safety training

Businesses across South Africa know just how important good health and safety practice is. They appreciate that they have a legal and moral duty to their workers to ensure they can work safely and that they aren’t exposed to risks unnecessarily. However, no matter how well intentioned these companies are, it’s all too easy to let things slip. And when due care and attention isn’t paid to safety, well that’s when accidents happen.

Accidents and safety incidents are damaging on so many different levels. There’s the human cost to consider first of all, then the lost productivity when someone is unable to work after an accident and finally the damage to reputation. Health and safety South Africa still has a long way to go, but thankfully for the most part things are moving in the right direction.

Health and safety training is at the heart of improving safety in the workplace. No matter what kind of environment people work in there are potential hazards lurking. Bad practice and ill advised behaviour can result in serious accidents or the development of longer term health problems. Education is a powerful tool to help raise awareness and influence the way people behave. It’s not just people working underground or on construction sites who need to take safely seriously. It’s every worker in every kind of job. Health and safety South Africa needs to be an all encompassing movement that raises the bar in every kind of workplace across the country.

Health and safety training can take many forms. For more practical sessions nothing can beat the classroom, but that’s not to say an element of e-learning and even mobile learning can be introduced where appropriate. By utilising different methods and delivery channels for training it’s possible to reach the workforce, no matter where they are, with important safety messages.

For more information please visit – www.phoenixhsc.co.za