Asbestos awareness training is intended to supplement the existing knowledge of employees and contractors with regards to the types and typical locations of asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) used in pre-2000 buildings, structures and equipment. The Control of Asbestos Regulations require these workers to be given asbestos awareness training where their work could foreseeably expose them to ACM’s. The training covers the following topics:
- The properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the increased risk of lung cancer for asbestos workers who smoke;
- The types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and ACMs in buildings and plant;
- The general procedures to be followed to deal with an emergency, e.g. an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace; and
- How to avoid the risks from asbestos, e.g. for building work, no employee should carry out work which disturbs the fabric of a building unless the employer has confirmed that ACMs are not present.
Training is essential where it’s foreseeable that the work will disturb the fabric of the building, structure or equipment, e.g. during construction, maintenance, refurbishment or demolition activities. An exemption from awareness training only applies when employers can demonstrate that the work carried out is free of ACM’s.
Please note that awareness training is not training to work with any forms of asbestos and is only intended to help employees avoid carrying out work that will disturb asbestos. There is no legal requirement to repeat a formal refresher awareness training course every year. However, some form of refresher should be given, as necessary, to help prevent workers putting themselves or others at risk during their work.
Manual handling injuries and musculoskeletal disorders account for more than a third of annual work-related lost time incidents reported by employers. The construction sector continues to have the highest rate of reported musculoskeletal disorders. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 8.9 million working days were lost during 2016/17. These reported injuries involved the lower limbs (17%), the back (38%) and the upper limbs and neck (45%).
Wardell Armstrong understands the important role of manual handling training in identifying hazards and reducing the risk of debilitating injuries. Our training is compliant with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations and covers the value of risk assessments; principles of safe lifting, pushing and pulling; matching classroom theory with task and site-specific practices; use of mechanical lifting aids and lifting equipment; and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Confined space entry is classed as a high-risk work activity. High standards of confined space entry planning and management is essential to keep workers safe from serious harm and injury.
A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby (e.g. lack of oxygen). Other prevalent hazards include noxious fumes and vapours, flammable atmospheres, the presence of liquids and gases, lack of suitable emergency rescue arrangements and equipment, lack of trained personnel.
Wardell Armstrong have significant experience of managing confined space entry work and have a team of highly competent staff who can plan and manage all aspects of the work. We provide confined space entry management training which is compliant with the Confined Spaces Regulations.
Work at height is classed as a high-risk work activity. High standards of planning and management is essential to keep workers safe from serious harm and injury. The five-year average for all injuries cites falls from height as being the leading kind of fatal accident.
Wardell Armstrong have significant experience of managing the work at height activities that we do for our ecology and archaeology clients. We have a team of highly competent staff who can plan and manage all aspects of the work. We provide work at height training which is compliant with the Work at Height Regulations.
Keeping people safe when using ladders and step ladders is a requirement of the Work at Height Regulations. Our training will equip workers with the required skills and knowledge to work safely at height when using ladders during their work activities. You will learn what to look for when doing a pre-use check, the typical damage and defects, the class of ladder to use to use for the work task, how to place a ladder and safely secure it to prevent it from slipping, how to use the ladder, and how to defect a ladder. We provide ladder training which is compliant with the Work at Height Regulations.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order requires the responsible person (employer) to nominate competent persons to implement fire safety measures, including raising the alarm, evacuation of persons from premises, use of firefighting equipment and liaising with occupiers of adjoining premises and the fire service.
The training must cover the equipment available to them – which must be adequate, considering the size of, and the specific hazards involved in, the premises concerned. We provide fire safety principles and practice training which is compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
