Six free SHE NVQ workshops for SMEs
Designed to show that Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) NVQs are not the expensive burden small employers think they are, six free workshops are being organised across the country for June to get across the message.
Awarding body EMP has around 20 free places at each workshop for small and medium-sized firms. Included in the 2.5hour afternoon sessions are presentations from quarry inspector Roy Bush on the HSE's priorities for 2008 and from Proskills on securing funding for staff training.
The workshops are open to any small firms that come under the Quarry Regulations and will take place in Nottingham, Sterling, Rainham, Warrington and Radstock, with a final sixth hopefully taking place in Devon or Cornwall.
EMP director Carol Pillinger told MQR it was a matter of showing small firms – who can be resistant to NVQs because of cost perceptions – that they are both neither as expensive as people assume and can help improve productivity.
She says: “Even the HSE has started to realise that a poorly trained staff member is an under-productive one as well as a H&S risk. As well as firms leaving themselves open to costs in court over H&S incidents, it is also a matter of lost profit through underperforming staff.”
Also worth keeping in mind is the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act coming into force next month, which will focus on management systems concerning health and safety.
Weightmans solicitor Glyn Thompson warns that any lack of clarity in H&S systems is likely to lead to a conviction should any death occur. SHE qualifications can help offer clarity to H&S structures.
Awarding body EMP has around 20 free places at each workshop for small and medium-sized firms. Included in the 2.5hour afternoon sessions are presentations from quarry inspector Roy Bush on the HSE's priorities for 2008 and from Proskills on securing funding for staff training.
The workshops are open to any small firms that come under the Quarry Regulations and will take place in Nottingham, Sterling, Rainham, Warrington and Radstock, with a final sixth hopefully taking place in Devon or Cornwall.
EMP director Carol Pillinger told MQR it was a matter of showing small firms – who can be resistant to NVQs because of cost perceptions – that they are both neither as expensive as people assume and can help improve productivity.
She says: “Even the HSE has started to realise that a poorly trained staff member is an under-productive one as well as a H&S risk. As well as firms leaving themselves open to costs in court over H&S incidents, it is also a matter of lost profit through underperforming staff.”
Also worth keeping in mind is the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act coming into force next month, which will focus on management systems concerning health and safety.
Weightmans solicitor Glyn Thompson warns that any lack of clarity in H&S systems is likely to lead to a conviction should any death occur. SHE qualifications can help offer clarity to H&S structures.
