As a company, you only employ skilled and trained plumbers. So why do HSEDocs feel that you have to train them again?

The answer is that companies must impart proper training to their staff to equip them with important advice and information about their respective work environments. One such area that requires particular attention is health and safety (H&S) training, which assists employees in comprehending the do's and don'ts of their jobs and the rationale behind regulations and advice. By offering comprehensive H&S training courses, employers can ensure that their employees are well-informed about potential hazards and risks in the workplace and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to avoid them. This can create a safer, more productive working environment, ultimately benefiting both employees and the company.

Here's a question: How many times do people suffer a slip, trip or fall without sustaining an injury?

While we may not have the exact number of unreported slip, trip, or fall incidents, we do know that nearly 180,000 people suffer injuries from such incidents at work each year.

According to the HSE, serious incidents resulting in broken bones account for 95% of all recorded slips, trips, and falls.

Training staff on the best ways to avoid slips, trips, and falls would be highly beneficial. Investing in their training further will significantly outweigh the costs, and we recommend the following HSEDocs training courses that we believe are suitable for you.

• Asbestos Awareness 
• Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
• Working at Heights
• Manual Handling
• First Aid at Work

Plumbing work and other trades require strict adherence to Health and Safety regulations to ensure the safety of workers and those around them. Plumbers should comprehensively understand these regulations, follow specific guidelines to mitigate risks and establish protocols for responding to emergencies. To do this, plumbers must maintain several essential documents, including Risk Assessments, Method Statements, COSHH Assessments, and site-specific safety plans.

Method statements are not just a requirement but a practical tool that significantly enhances plumbing work. These statements provide detailed instructions that outline the steps and procedures required to complete a plumbing task safely, efficiently, and to a high standard. They ensure that all aspects of the plumbing work are carried out systematically and organised, minimizing the risk of accidents and errors. Properly written method statements also provide a document that can be referred to during the work, making it easier to identify and address any issues that may arise. In summary, method statements are an essential tool for any plumbing project, and they play a crucial role in ensuring that the work is completed to the highest possible standard in the safest possible way.

Risk assessments are an essential tool for identifying potential hazards in the workplace, thereby enabling plumbers to evaluate the risks to their own safety as well as the safety of others. These assessments help in developing strategies to mitigate the risks and determine the control measures that need to be put in place or followed to carry out a task with minimum risk of harm. By following best practices and taking all necessary precautions, the plumbers can ensure that they carry out their work safely and efficiently.

COSHH Assessments are another critical document that plumbers should be supplied with. These documents describe the precautions plumbers should take when handling hazardous substances or products, such as chemicals or fumes. By following COSHH guidelines, plumbers can protect themselves and others from exposure to harmful substances.

Finally, site-specific safety plans outline the specific safety protocols that should be followed on a job site. These documents help ensure that plumbers know potential hazards and how to respond in an emergency.