National Apprenticeship Week runs from the 9th – 15th February, and aims to bring together employers, apprentices, and providers to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they can have on the workplace as well as the apprentice themselves.
If your workplace has hired an apprentice, it’s important to make sure they’re trained in proper health and safety – particularly if you’re in a high-risk industry such as construction or engineering. You have a legal duty of care, particularly if they are classified as a ‘young person’ (under the age of eighteen).

This may be the apprentice’s first experience of a workplace, so a building a strong foundation of health and safety knowledge can not only help them keep themselves and others safe but set them up with a positive attitude throughout their career.
There are a wide range of accredited health and safety training courses that are ideal for apprentices of all trades and industries, and most can even be used as a stepping stone to a higher level of qualification.

Read on to find out our top five qualification recommendations for making sure your apprentices are safe, healthy and happy at work.

IOSH Approved Working Safely

If you’re looking for a nationally recognised and respected health and safety course that’s applicable to any industry or sector, look no further than IOSH Approved Working Safely. This course meets the government’s guidelines for introductory health and safety training and focuses on why health and safety is important and how the individual can make a difference.
ACT offer this course through several learning methods:

• Classroom
• Online virtual classroom
•  E-learning

You can train multiple members of staff at a time with ACT’s in-house option,  which can be tailored to suit your organisation’s needs and can take place either at your own premises or virtually on a day that suits you best. You can even combine taught sessions with e-learning for even greater flexibility.

UKATA Asbestos Awareness

In 2012, The Control of Asbestos Regulations was updated to mandate that anyone likely to be exposed to or disturb asbestos fibres at work should undertake accredited asbestos awareness training annually.
If there is a chance that your apprentice will encounter asbestos at any time while they’re working, then they need to have completed the UKATA Asbestos Awareness course before they step on site. This includes not only construction workers, but also general maintenance staff and building surveyors. Many construction companies have made this qualification essential in order to access work sites.

This course is available online or as a half-day classroom course, and covers the associated risks of asbestos and where it is commonly found – learners won’t learn how to handle or remove asbestos, but they will be able to recognise it and take the appropriate steps to keep themselves and others around them safe.

Emergency First Aid At Work

When it comes to emergency first aid, the more workers are prepared, the better – especially if your apprentice is working as part of a pair or small team. Designed for low-risk work environments such as offices or retail spaces, the successful completion of this one-day course entitles them to act as a first-aider in the workplace.

The course covers CPR, treatment of unconscious casualties such as seizures, treatment of choking, bleeding, and shock, the recording of such incidents and actions.
The hands-on and interactive nature of the course makes it ideal for in-house training for your team – train up any new employees and refresh and recertify your existing employees at the same time.

CCNSG Safety Passport

Organisations in the construction, gas, power, and engineering sectors often require workers to hold a valid CCNSG Safety Passport before allowing them to work on site. The Safety Passport, when combined with an on-site induction, will enable apprentices to work safely while on site and allow them to develop their understanding of their personal responsibilities for site safety.
ACT hold regular classroom courses, so there’s plenty of opportunity for your apprentice to achieve their Safety Passport as soon as they’re ready.

iAS Health and Safety E-learning Courses

Our full suite of iAS e-learning courses are the ideal introductory package for any new starters, and the flexible nature of the e-learning courses mean that they can fit around your apprentice’s other responsibilities.
The range includes:
• Health and Safety Induction
• Display Screen Equipment
• Fire Safety
• Manual Handling
• …and more

You can mix and match the courses to build a custom package based on your apprentice and their roles and responsibilities. Speak to our Customer Advice team today about your needs to find out more about how we can help you reach your training goals.

Phone: 01384 447915
Email: actsales@actassociates.co.uk