The Importance of Training
Training is the most important act of preparation for an emergency evacuation. It’s the key to keeping everyone safe and keeping people informed on what to do in case of an event requiring action. The more consideration given to training, the more likely it is that people will know how to react in an emergency situation. And the more people that are trained, the better the chance of making sure that everyone can get out quickly, efficiently and — most importantly — safely.
It is vital for your designated employees to feel prepared in the event of an emergency evacuation. Training helps those people understand what they should do and where they should go. A lack of preparedness could lead to a number of otherwise avoidable scenarios, from minor injury through to something more serious such as the loss of life.
Those tasked with aiding people who require assistance need to be able to think clearly if they have to deploy their skills. Confidence and clarity is gained from a wealth of preparedness, giving you, your employees and visitors to your premises ultimate peace of mind in both high and low pressure situations.
PUWER’s Role In Training
It goes without saying that a trained team offers compliance with the various regulations that you are obliged to adhere to. PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) requires that equipment provided for use at work is:
- suitable for the intended use
- safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and does not subsequently deteriorate
- used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training
Deploying members of your team that have not been educated to perform a safe evacuation would be in direct violation of PUWER regulations, so it is essential that you invest in a comprehensive programme delivered by a reputable provider, such as our team here at Aspire GB.
Health & Safety at Work Act
The Health and Safety at Work Act sets out that you have to provide the information, instruction, training and supervision that is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of your employees.
Further to this, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations sets out the provisions for providing continued education to employees when skills get rusty, or where extra attention is required, such as for new starters or when new risks are identified.
Benefits of Investing in Training
Effective training in your workplace brings a number of positives, including health and safety competency, the evasion of preventable accidents and the avoidance of financial implications that could arise from negligence claims or occupational health issues.
A culture that promotes best practice across evacuation, plus the wider health and safety spectrum, is only a good thing for everyone that comes into contact with your business and premises. A competent team will offer assurances to employees and customers that your obligations are being met.
Moving Forward After Lockdown
The events of the last year and a half will have no doubt had implications on us all on both a personal and professional level. During this time, which may have included a period of closure or reduced operations for many, it will have been easy to overlook a number of vital functions, such as planning, maintenance and — you guessed it — training.
It’s likely that changes in personnel after reopening or rehiring could see a reduction in the number of people that possess the knowledge to conduct safe evacuation operations. For those that have remained with you, it’s only natural that procedures may have slipped their mind after so long without retraining or practical application.
We offer a variety of bespoke training packages to give you the confidence you need to fully utilise your equipment and provide a safe assisted means of escape for those who need it. Contact our team today to find out more and to book your training session.
