Every change in the season brings with it new and different considerations where business health and safety is concerned, and it’s essential that all those responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance take new developments into account as we move from spring into summer, autumn and winter.

Summer is now on the wane, which means now’s the perfect time to review your risk assessments, make any relevant changes and ensure that all members of the team, from the top to the bottom, are aware of their own individual responsibilities at this time of year, as well as being made aware of the different risks posed by forthcoming autumnal conditions.

Common workplace risks in the autumn:

As the days get shorter and darker, and the temperature starts to drop in line, the weather starts to change as well, all of which converge to create new hazards and risks for commercial enterprises.

These include:

– Slippery surfaces, which can increase the risk of slips, trips and falls

– Reduced visibility, which can make it harder to see different hazards

– Coughs, colds and the flu, which can become more commonplace

– Drops in temperature, which can cause issues for those working outside

Different industries will face their own individual risks, however, so it’s important that those responsible carry out their own risk assessments so they can identify and address hazards as time goes on. This will ensure that they’re able to introduce the best and most effective working practices and procedures to mitigate the risks.

However, one of the best ways to ensure that your business is safe throughout the year, for both you, your members of staff, clients and guests, is to stay up to date with training, equipping those employees in health and safety roles with all the skills and knowledge they need to maintain standards.

Here at ACT, we have a range of different health and safety qualifications you can get, including:

The NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Practice

This particular City & Guilds course is a bachelor’s degree level qualification equivalent, perfect for anyone working in a health and safety role.

There is no taught programme or exams to speak of. Instead, you will compile an online portfolio with evidence of workplace-based tasks and activities that you perform in your daily work that meet a set of qualification criteria.

The aim of this qualification is to help you develop professionally, as well as demonstrating the skills and knowledge you’ve built up in managing workplace health and safety.

In all, seven units will need to be completed:

– Understanding and developing health and safety emergency procedures

– Understanding health and safety systems, analysing audit processes and conducting a health and safety audit

– Evaluating and improving organisational health and safety culture

– Reviewing health and safety policy, implementing improvements and understanding business functions relative to workplace health and safety

– Understanding professional ethics in the workplace so as to carry out research to improve health and safety

– Identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing monitoring systems and developing reporting/recording systems

– Preparing a health and safety strategy for the workplace and promoting a health and safety culture

If you’d like to build your health and safety knowledge further, our NEBOSH General Certificate course is a great place to start. It’s designed for anyone looking to develop practical skills and gain a respected qualification in workplace safety. To find out more, get in touch with the ACT team today.