One of the most serious HR Management accountabilities is Health & Safety . It is estimated by the Health & Safety Executive that in the UK about 500 people are killed at work every year and several hundred thousand more are injured or suffer ill-health. It is also estimated that, apart from the pain and misery caused to those directly or indirectly involved, the total cost to British employers of work-related injury and illness exceeds £4 billion a year.

The achievement of good health & safety HR management working practices and the elimination to the maximum extent possible of hazards are the responsibility of everyone involved with what the organisation does and produces, however, the onus is on HR management to achieve and go beyond the high standards of health and safety as required by legislation, regulations and codes of practices.

Programme Introduction

In 1989 the Community adopted what has now become known as the Framework Directive, which identified in one document the general duties required of employers to protect the health and safety of their employees and others who may become involved with their operations. In the UK, the implementation of European Directive 90/269 EC became effective on January 1st 1993, when the various elements of the Directive became part of the health and safety at work act 1974.

The legislation is sometimes known as "the six pack":

1. The management of health & safety at work regulations
2. The manual handling operations regulations
3. The workplace (health & safety, & welfare) regulations
4. The health & safety (display screen equipment) regulations
5. Personal protective equipment at work regulations
6. The provision and use of work equipment regulations

Though each Directive is important in its own right, it is vital to consider the Directives as a whole to understand their interaction with one another. There are five main elements which require attention:

• avoid hazardous manual handling activities, as far as is reasonably possible
• assess any hazardous manual handling activity that cannot be avoided
• reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practicable
• provide employees who are involved in any manual handling activities with suitable information and        training to ensure their competency and proficiency
• be aware of and monitor the individual capabilities of those who are required to lift and handle loads

Our health & safety HR management training programmes reflects these elements and consolidates participants knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibility in minimising risks, working to procedures and maintaining a safe environment.