What is the Working Safely® course?
Working Safely is a course devised by IOSH and delivered by IOSH approved training centres. People who undertake the course are usually invited to by their employers, although there is nothing preventing an individual from doing it themselves for personal development.
The main aim of Working Safely is to enable the delegate (you!) to understand how to keep yourself and others safe in the workplace.
So, why do we need to train people in health and safety?
Well, in the year 2019 / 2020, a total of 111 people were killed at work in the UK. Although this is the lowest total on record (many workplaces closed or reduced headcount due to Covid-19), it’s still 111 people who got up, had their coffee, went to work and didn’t return. This isn’t a situation we ever want to find ourselves in; either becoming a victim ourselves or having to inform a family that their loved one is never coming home.
The Working Safely course can be taught face-to-face in a classroom environment or online. This preparation course is mainly aimed at classroom taught as this can be the bigger source of concern for people who haven’t undertaken formal training in a while. It’s also (in my opinion) the most effective form of training due to easy interaction between delegates and tutor and the extra support that can be given in a face-to-face environment.
What Can I Expect On the Day?
Whether your course is being taught in your normal workplace or a different venue, the format will be the same. All delegates are issued with an official IOSH workbook at the beginning of the first day and these are yours to keep. You will also complete a registration form to confirm your attendance and the tutor will run through venue-specific information such as where the facilities are and the timings of the day. There is a lot to get through on a 1-day course but there will be plenty of breaks and opportunities to complete practical tasks and mock tests so you’re ready for the final assessments.
End of Course Assessments
In order to pass the course, you must sit two assessments under exam conditions. These assessments consist of a multi-format question paper and a hazard spotting exercise, and both will take place at the end of the course. More information on the assessments can be found in the ‘Working Safely Final Assessments’ module at the end of this online course.
Let’s take a look at the topics covered under the Working Safely course.