Reducing MSDs in the Workplace

In March, the HSE updated its advice around Manual Handling as part of its goal of reducing MSDs in the workplace. This has led to a spate of articles that have focused on the problems associated with a one size fits all, off the shelf approach to training.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The HSE stated – 

“Research has shown that general training in lifting techniques is an ineffective way of controlling the risks of manual handling in businesses.”

And do you know what – we agree!

Whether a generic unengaging eLearning course or the same old PowerPoint delivered by the same old hand who knows it all, training can miss the mark and be boring too, especially for the person delivering it!

Where this becomes problematic is when “eLearning” is taken to be synonymous with “out of the box” – It is not necessarily the case. Here at VinciWorks, we’re keen that the medium is not mixed with the message.

In a recent article entitled “How To Learn” leading Health & Safety Consultant, Bridget Leathley, described an example of how a blended approach to Manual Handling Training could be adopted. The example below is how she envisaged the optimal learning outcomes:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A blended approach to reducing MSDs

“On-the-job– at induction Jim is walked around the workplace and shown some simple handling tasks he can do and told which tasks he shouldn’t do until he has more experience. During the first week, his supervisor keeps an eye on him and reminds him when he needs to use the equipment.

After a couple of weeks, Jim goes to a ½ day structured classroom course which explains the principles of muscles and levers and good handling technique, including team lifts. After the course, Jim’s supervisor assesses him on the job for team lifting.

After six months, Jim’s supervisor suggests he sits an e-learning course. This provides a refresher of what he learned before and teaches him about manual handling risk assessment. On successful completion, Jim has an on-the-job discussion with his manager and makes some suggestions for improvements to the workspace that will make handling tasks easier.”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Editable eLearning & reducing MSDs

If an organization is serious about reducing the incidence of MSDs amongst its workforce, then it needs to take issues like manual handling seriously. Yes, we offer a Manual Handling eLearning Course, but like all of our courses, it is fully editable by the customer using WorkWize Author.

This means you can tailor the eLearning to the specific requirements of your environment, adding images and videos of the workplace giving the course relevance to your employees.

WorkWize can also deploy People Based Risk Assessments and Training Needs Analysis. So, with a little thought and investment, eLearning can form an essential part of the training strategy. Not just around Manual Handling, but areas like Workstation Ergonomics and DSE Assessment, thus playing a pivotal role in reducing MSDs in any working environment.

A supermarket chain relied on existing staff to show new delivery drivers how to use powered pallet trucks safely. One new driver had been shown how to use a pallet truck at one site, but when he came across a different type of pallet truck at another site he didn’t understand how to stop it from moving. It crushed his foot, resulting in the amputation of two toes. The supermarket was fined £1 million, and the prosecution said that the supermarket should have had a “standardised training programme” so that every driver would know how to operate every truck they might need to use, safely. When it comes to safety at work, working it out as you go isn’t enough. Could online learning courses have been any help?

So what is the best way to teach people the skills they need to keep safe and healthy at work? One theory suggests that people can be categorised as visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners – that is, some learn better by seeing, some by listening and others by doing. However, there is as much evidence for this as there is for using birth signs to assign people to a career.

Can you imagine learning music without sound? Learning to drive without sitting in a vehicle? Learning to identify birds from a text description without a picture? Some skills are just better taught in a particular way.

So too with health and safety training, the debate shouldn’t be “classroom versus e-learning” or “online versus on-the-job” but “how can I best combine all the training tools available?”
To help you decide how you can integrate online learning with traditional training, we’ve included some of the pros and cons of classroom, on-the-job and online learning below.

Classroom learning:

On-the-job learning:

E-learning / Online learning courses: What’s good about online learning Courses?

From this list of pros and cons we can see that provided you have a great teacher and that students start with a similar level of knowledge and ability, classroom teaching is a good way of making sure that people understand the theory and “buy-in” to the principles presented. However, since online learning courses don’t depend on everyone having the same ability they can be really useful in bringing people up to the same level, for example before a classroom course. Online courses are also useful for refresher training, as they are easy to schedule and access. Knowledge can be tested effectively by both classroom and online courses, but that knowledge needs to be reinforced in the workplace and provided it can be done safely and recorded, checking competence is best done on-the-job. Online learning is automatically recorded by the learning management system, so where the same online learning management system can also be used to schedule, test and record classroom attendance and on-the-job training, the administration will be a lot easier.

Here are some examples of how you might blend these approaches to get the best results from your health and safety training:

Fire Safety
At a classroom induction on his first day, Charlie is told how the fire alarm system works in the building. When he meets his new manager she shows him (on-the-job) the nearest call point, the escape route, and the assembly area. In the first week, Charlie takes an online course in fire safety awareness which explains how the fire triangle works and provide historical examples to emphasise the importance of a prompt evacuation. Within six months, Charlie takes part in a fire drill and is involved in a feedback session. He decides he’d like to be a fire warden, so he sits a more advanced online course for fire wardens. Once he has passed this, the responsible person for fire runs a session for him and other new wardens which includes some time in a classroom and some practical (on-the-job) work around the building.

Manual handling
On-the-job – at induction Jim is walked around the workplace and shown some simple handling tasks he can do, and told which tasks he shouldn’t do until he has more experience. During the first week, his supervisor keeps an eye on him and reminds him when he needs to use the equipment. After a couple of weeks, Jim goes to a ½ day structured classroom course which explains the principles of muscles and levers and good handling technique, including team lifts. After the course, Jim’s supervisor assesses him on the job for team lifting. After six months, Jim’s supervisor suggests he sits an e-learning course. This provides a refresher of what he learned before and also teaches him about manual handling risk assessment. On successful completion, Jim has an on-the-job discussion with his manager and makes some suggestions for improvements to the workspace that will make handling tasks easier.

Work at height
At her induction classroom course, Janet is told not to do any work at height until she has had further training. In the first week, she does an online course which explains that this includes not climbing on furniture, for example using a chair to reach a high shelf, or climbing on a desk to change a lightbulb. In her first month, an experienced colleague who has been through a classroom train-the-trainer course shows Janet on-the-job how to do a ladder pre-use inspection, and checks she understands how to use the ladder safely. After a year Janet is sent on an external PASMA certified course to learn how to assemble and use a mobile access tower. The PASMA course includes classroom and practical elements. The first time she uses an access tower her experienced colleague observes on-the-job and provides feedback.

The future
Online learning is now widely available at low cost, but the quality varies so look out for courses which have been approved by external bodies such as RoSPA. Decide on your training needs first: know your hazards, decide what training people need to manage the hazards, and then decide how best to combine online learning courses with traditional approaches.

To view our library of e-Learning courses, click here
If you’d like a Free Trial of our courses, complete the form below and we’ll arrange access.

.ISO 45001 is a new Occupational Health and Safety Management standard that will become the accepted international benchmark, replacing OHSAS 18001.

It will pose challenges to both organisations who are looking to transition from the existing OHSAS 18001 standard or who are adopting the new criteria from scratch. Ignoring the new standard may be possible in the short term, but as it becomes established, a failure to adhere to its principles could be a corporate governance red flag signalling that the Health & Safety of workers is not being taken seriously. Ignoring it could also jeopardise contracts where the customer specifies compliance.

Although not mandatory, it’s estimated that over 100,000 companies across the globe will have adopted the standard in the first year. This means top management in organisations will be under pressure to step up to the challenge.

More apprentices due to join the workplace,

The 2008 Education and Skills Act changed the rules about what young people could do at 16. If they don’t want to study full-time, they must find employment that includes education and training until they are 18. More young people in the workforce means more demands for Apprenticeship Training.

Employers and training providers initially had little incentive to create new opportunities, and so some young people embarked on courses they didn’t really want to do or took jobs where the training wasn’t very valuable. The charity Campaign for Learning identified that raising the participation age exacerbated the gap in resources for 16 to 18-year-olds who didn’t want to follow an academic route.

“Too many young people may still find themselves in jobs with little chance of developing worthwhile skills or gaining recognised qualifications.”

To encourage employers to provide more apprenticeships with a structured standard and an assessment plan, the UK government introduced the apprenticeship levy in April 2017. Large employers (with a pay bill of more than £3m) must set aside 0.5% of their pay bill to invest in apprenticeship training. Small and medium employers are not forced to provide apprenticeships, but if they do the government will pay 90% of the cost of training and assessment.

The news headlines at the end of 2017 suggested that the levy led to a fall in the number of apprenticeships. However, whilst the number of people starting apprenticeships in quarter 1 of the 2017/18 academic year (August to October) fell by nearly 60% compared to the same period in 2016, April 2017 had seen a doubling of the number of new starts compared with the previous year, suggesting perhaps that employers had filled places early.

As shown in the pie chart, three service sectors together represent 7 out of every 10 apprenticeships, with engineering and manufacturing coming a close fourth. Of these, health and social care is the biggest growth area, with apprenticeships starts bucking the overall trend by increasing during the year.

or those companies paying the levy, the money is saved into a digital account. Since employers have two years to spend that money, many might be using the time to plan how it can best be spent to fill anticipated skills gaps, such as those arising as EU workers return home in anticipation of BREXIT. There could be a lot of young people entering the workplace as the clock ticks on previous levy payments.

What do I need to do to protect young people at work during Apprenticeship Training?

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations require employers to pay attention to the need to protect young people at work

“from any risks to their health or safety which are a consequence of their lack of experience, or absence of awareness of existing or potential risks or the fact that young persons have not yet fully matured.”

Whilst it is obvious to you not to take drinks into a tool shop, the Starbucks generation will need to be reminded; whilst you know it’s common sense to wipe up spills, they might have always left that to their parents!

Alongside the apprenticeship training covered by the levy, other training will need to be arranged and paid for by the employer. This includes site inductions, local evacuation arrangements and basic health and safety training covering topics like slips and trips, electrical safety, fire safety and personal protective equipment. You might want to cover other business areas too, such as site security, and if they have access to a computer at work, cybersecurity.

Whilst college attendance will cover some training requirements, how are you going to provide all the workplace training an apprentice needs? And how are you going to manage and track progress and monitor success? Let’s start by thinking like a millennial.

Different Generations Learn Differently

The stereotypes of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), generation X (1965 to 1979), millennials or Gen Y (1980 to 1995) and post-millennials or gen Z (those born since 1996) should be treated with caution since any generation has more differences than similarities. However, considering the experience of each is useful when deciding how to provide training. Baby boomers and generation X will remember blackboards at school, and at the younger end, whiteboards using odorous pens. Post-millennials joining the workplace now might never have seen a blackboard, and their whiteboards were connected to the Internet and touch sensitive.

Those blackboards were used by teachers to write notes which students copied into their books, learned for homework and were tested on in class. The teacher was the source of knowledge. Generations Y and Z learned to research topics at primary school. They watched YouTube for homework. They made films, papier-mâché models, or even wrote poems about scientific principles and historical events. They devised their own tests with an app.

eLearning is particularly suitable for younger “Digital natives”

Workplace learning for young people, therefore, should use active approaches and take advantage of what young people like doing – using computers! One such approach is the LOcHER project. Students use computers to do their own research and make their own posters, edit their own videos or devise their own competitions. See the glove-off challenge or the Dust n Boots rap for examples of motivated students.

E-learning is another area that gen Y are very comfortable with – provided it doesn’t spoon feed them. They are happy to guess at the right answers, and e-learning can allow them to do this, but without looking foolish in front of their peers.

Some young people choose apprenticeships as a positive choice over A-levels and university; others do it because they were told they weren’t good enough. Around one in ten of those starting apprenticeship training has a recognized learning difficulty, and the proportion has increased steadily since 2011/12. Some of these young people lack confidence. Making e-learning accessible to them – on computers at work, but also allowing them access on their own mobile devices, out of work time if they choose – means that they can repeat a lesson as often as they want until they feel confident. If attention deficit is a problem, an e-learning solution that allows students to break their learning into chunks of time that suits them has additional value. Ten minutes while they wait for the bus; five minutes when they get into work in the morning. It all adds up and will help everyone (not just those with specific learning needs) to take information in.

A Learning Management System is an elegant solution for Apprenticeship Training

So, if you going to combine e-learning, video projects, on-the-job briefings and the rest, how are you going to record the evidence you need to demonstrate that you are providing appropriate training?

What you don’t want is an online learning management system (LMS) that works OK for eLearning – but doesn’t support other forms of training, such that you must resort to a spreadsheet for the rest. A great LMS will allow you to track invites and attendance to classroom courses, completion of assignments and on-the-job successes too.

A construction company has been fined for working at height violations, after a worker fell through a roof window opening, suffering broken ribs and a fractured hip.

The Magistrates Court in Luton heard how the employee of the firm was carrying out work on a new build extension when his foot slipped and he fell through a roof light gap.  He landed on the concrete floor below suffering two broken ribs and a broken hip.

The incident, which occurred on 26 July 2016 was investigated by The HSE.  They found that despite the firm having identified in risk assessments suitable measures to prevent falls, they had failed to implement these control measures at the time of the injured workers fall.

Sizeable fine for breach

The firm, based in St. Albans, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 received a fine of £30,000 and was ordered to pay costs of £2,008.35.

HSE inspector Samantha Wells stated after the hearing,

“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.

“In this case, by putting in place measures to prevent falls through the skylight including boarding over the gaps, or providing a scaffold platform under the roof under construction, could have removed the danger of falling.”

Does your organisation provide adequate training for those working at height?

If you are concerned that employees are not be receiving Working at Height training and want to ensure that you have a robust system in place, VinciWorks can help.

Looking for effective Working at Height Training? Why not request a free trial and experience the full course today.

Asbestos Awareness is a phrase we have all heard, but do we really know what it is?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which has been used as a construction material for thousands of years. However, it was the Industrial Revolution that introduced asbestos into commercial use, specifically due to its wide range of properties.

The fire-resistant, flexible, and relatively durable mineral was used as an additive that was commonly processed into mechanical equipment and building materials of the 1900s. Such commercial machines and equipment includes gaskets, electrical insulators, and temperature sensitive devices like boilers or generators. The construction industry utilized asbestos in common building materials such as concrete, insulation, roofing products, floor and ceiling tiles, paints and adhesives, to name a few.

Reaching peak consumption by the 1970’s, asbestos was praised as the miracle mineral used across dozens of industries. However, as medical studies of the era started to focus on the long-term health effects of asbestos, it became clear the beloved additive could be contributing to some extremely deadly and rare lung diseases.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So why is Asbestos so dangerous?

In the last forty years or so, asbestos has been globally acknowledged as a carcinogenic material that causes particular harm to unprotected individuals that accidentally inhale or ingest its fibres. Additionally, these microscopic particles can be carried by the wind, stick to fabrics, or contaminate open water sources resulting in secondhand exposure. After entering the body, the carcinogenic fibrils can attach to the lungs, causing damaging inflammation, scar tissue generation, and eventually mesothelioma cancer. Although it’s been known for quite some time that asbestos exposure is directly tied to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related lung diseases such as asbestosis, only 60 countries (including the EU) have entirely banned it. Therefore, EU safety standards, compliance policies, and health statistics vary greatly from those of the U.S.

Asbestos in the EU

• In 2005, 53 countries in the EU banned asbestos. Prohibiting mining, importation, and use.
• In 2015, HSE reported approximately 2,536 mesothelioma related deaths in Great Britain alone
• Mesothelioma related deaths are projected to decline by the early 2020s

Asbestos in the U.S.

• Asbestos has not been banned in the United States. However, the EPA attempted to ban it in the early 1980s. The ruling was quickly overturned
• Some products made in the U.S. are grandfathered to contain up to 1% asbestos
• In 2015, OSHA reported approximately 2,597 mesothelioma related deaths
• Mesothelioma related deaths are predicted to decline by the late 2020s

Due to decades of continuous use and inconsistent global policies, asbestos remains a prevalent threat and the related diseases associated with asbestos, are rarely detected early-on. Mesothelioma, in particular, develops symptoms slowly, sometimes decades after initial exposure, and commonly mimics other illnesses like pneumonia. Unfortunately, delayed treatment due to misdiagnosis, often contributes to the less than ideal mesothelioma survival rate.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Who should take an Asbestos Awareness Course?

According to current regulations (The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012), all employers have a legal duty to provide information, instruction and training to any employees who are likely to be exposed to Asbestos Containing Material (ACMs) as part of their work.

Taking these precautions could avoid lengthy, expensive legal compensation and save lives!

Tradespersons

According to the  Health and Safety Executive (HSE), asbestos kills 20 tradesmen every week.  It is, therefore, important that self-employed individuals, contractors and workers are appropriately trained, can protect themselves, and avoid putting others at risk of exposure. These include, demolition and construction workers, general maintenance staff, electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, roofers and plasterers.

Licensed Contractors

Where employees are undertaking higher risk work with asbestos, employers must hold a licence granted by the HSE before commencing any work with asbestos material. Licensed Contractors should have an in-depth understanding of asbestos and its dangers and know how to safely remove and dispose of asbestos material.

Building Owners

If you are a building owner, and/or are responsible for the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises, you have a duty of care to manage any asbestos in that building.

This duty covers all non-domestic premises including industrial and commercial buildings such as factories, warehouses, offices and shops.  Public buildings such as hospitals, schools and leisure centres are also included in this duty.

Although the duty to manage asbestos does not extend to private domestic buildings, it is relevant to communal areas of multi-occupancy premises such as flats.

As a duty holder, what do you need to know?

It is your responsibility to find out if asbestos is present in your building. Once this has been established, the location, condition and type of asbestos must be recorded and risk assessed. Any identified risks should be managed and monitored by way of an action plan. These plans should be made available to any tradesperson working at your premises.

Members of the public.

If undisturbed and in good condition, asbestos is unlikely to cause harm. However, it would be wise that homeowners and tenants are aware of asbestos and where to go for advice if needed. Further information and guidance can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/

_________________________________________________________________________________

What training do you need and where to find it?

The type of training you require will ultimately depend on your level of involvement with and potential exposure to Asbestos material.

VinciWorks offers a UKATA (Category A) Asbestos Awareness Certified eLearning Course.
This two-hour course is an essential prerequisite for any Tradesperson who is likely to come into contact with ACMs and has been certified by the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA). This modular course provides an in-depth range of key topics including all relevant requirements: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Regulation 10, and the Approved Code of Practice L143 second edition, Managing and Working with Materials Containing Asbestos.

Successful completion of the UKATA Category A Certified Online Asbestos Awareness Course, will provide users with the knowledge needed to identify the presence of asbestos, the different types of asbestos, the health risks associated with exposure to asbestos material and highlight the importance of safe working practices.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are the benefits of being Asbestos Aware?

Ensuring your employees have taken a course with verified content and UKATA certification will provide obvious health and safety benefits. Furthermore, it will improve your staff’s knowledge and skill set and reinforce your organisation’s reputation, credibility and business success within your industry.

Fires can break out at any time, and have the potential to cause significant damage, both to property and to human life. Many businesses fail to continue trading following a severe fire. Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Given these risks, it is vital that your workforce know what the common fire hazards are and what to do if a fire was to start.

Main Causes of fire hazards 

• Faulty electrics. Antiquated or faulty electrical equipment including loose wires are a common cause of a fire.  All electrical equipment must be used correctly, maintained and tested.  Portable Appliances must be PAT tested regularly.
• Flammable/combustible materials.   A business using flammable and combustible materials must adequately risk assess, store and correctly dispose of potentially hazardous substances. All staff using such materials must attend a fire safety course.
• Human Error.  Incorrect use of equipment, burning food, leaving machines unattended and ignorance when using inflammable materials, can all lead to a fire risk.
• Negligence.  Similar to human error, staff through negligence can cause fire risks by not following rules. For example, by blocking vents, not disposing of cigarette ends correctly or overloading electrical sockets.
• Arson.  Businesses in areas with public access may be prone to vandalism and arson.  If appropriate, businesses can install fire shutters and sprinkler equipment to protect property.

What are your legal duties and responsibilities around fire safety?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire safety in England and Wales.  In Scotland, requirements on general fire safety are covered in Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

In the majority of premises, local fire and rescue authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has enforcement responsibility on construction sites, for nuclear premises, and on ships under construction or undergoing repair.

Employers must ensure they have carried out fire risk assessments to help prevent or reduce the impact of fire, identify significant findings and details on any individual who might be at risk in case of a fire. The findings of the risk assessment must be recorded if your organisation has 5 or more employees. Employers are responsible for providing and maintaining fire precautions to safeguard staff and visitors to their premises.  Additionally, the provision of information and training about fire precautions must be met by the employer.

VinciWorks Fire Safety Essentials eLearning course provides essential information about what to do if a fire breaks out, including how to raise the alarm, who to contact and how and where to evacuate. The online course describes the fire triangle – the chemical reaction between heat, fuel and an oxidising agent (usually oxygen) that cause fires – and explores how fires start, how they develop, and how they spread. It explains what to look out for in relation to potential fire hazards in the workplace, particularly focusing on carelessness and the misuse of electrical appliances.
An important part of the course describes fire signage and the ways it communicates messages relating to fire safety. Fire evacuation forms a central element, and the course explains correct procedures for evacuation, including assembly and safe return to the building.
The online course outlines the different classifications of fires and explains which type of fire extinguisher to use in different situations. Basic first aid advice is also included.

This Fire Safety Essentials eLearning course can be customised to meet your needs, enabling your workforce to understand the specific policies and procedures you have developed for your organisation, including specified fire evacuation routes and assembly points. A designated course administrator can use our integrated authoring tool to edit the text and images of the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.

According to a recent report released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), slips trips and falls are the single most common cause of non-fatal injuries in the workplace. Between 2017/18, there were an estimated 600,000 self-reported workplace injuries, including 71,062 non-fatal injuries, which, in total, accounts for 31% of all major work injuries. In total Slips and trips cost £512 million to employers per year,  £133 million to the Nation Health Service and cause an incalculable cost to human life.

Slips, trips and falls can happen anywhere, at anytime and in any workplace. As a result, Your staff, customers, contractors and members of the public can be exposed to this common risk.  Prevention can help reduce the number of injuries, the cost of your employer’s’ insurance and legal costs.

What are the main causes of slips, trips, and falls?

• Uneven floor surfaces.
• Unsuitable floor coverings.
• Wet/slippery floors.
• Changes in levels.
• Trailing cables.
• Poor lighting.
• Poor housekeeping.

Obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a responsibility on the employer to “to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work” of all their employees.” This includes the protection of workers and the public from risks associated with slips, trips, and falls.  

How can you prevent slips, trips, and falls?

Performing a risk assessment by a qualified member of staff, in all workplace areas, will assist in identifying hazards and therefore, reducing the risk of accidents.  

A common sense approach can significantly reduce the incidents of slips, trips and falls without adding significant business costs. For example, spillages should be cleared up immediately, wet floors can be identified by using appropriate signage, uneven levels can be accessed safely by use of ramps, handrails, and adequate lighting, and poor lighting should be addressed immediately.  

For further information on accident prevention, the VinciWorks eLearning course explains what could be considered as workplace hazards, and examines how slips, trips, and falls occur in different work environments. It identifies the importance of risk identification, accident prevention, and good housekeeping procedures. The course also highlights the responsibilities of each employee to protect themselves and others, by following the relevant procedures.

This Slips, Trips and Falls eLearning course can be customised to meet your needs, enabling your workforce to understand the specific policies and procedures you have developed for your organisation. A designated course administrator can edit the text and images of the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.