Lack of The law demands that an employer trains the workforce how work safely with minimum risk to health and that includes training on:

• The risks and hazards they may come across
• How they deal with those risks
• What procedures are in place to deal with them

What sort of training?

Training in lifting techniques for those members of staff who might have to lift during the course of their employment is a must, as is training in using machinery for those employed to use it, how to drive a forklift truck for those who have to drive them and safe housekeeping procedures for all.

Examples of accidents involving lack of training

There are many accidents at work caused as a result of lack of training, but some of the more serious ones involve machinery.

In one case, an operative effectively lost the use of his right hand after severing his thumb and index finger on the cutting part of a moulding machine. He and a 15 year old on work experience boy were using the machine. There had been a jam in the process and the worker tried to free it with a piece of wood and when that failed, he opened the enclosure around the machine and somehow, his gloved hand was pulled in and the injury was caused. The company was prosecuted and it was found that there had been inadequate guarding on the machine, no risk assessments had been carried out and a young person had been put on the machine where there could be a risk of accident because of his lack of experience and training. There should have been guards, some system in place to deal with blockages and full training for all personnel in the safe use of the machine. The employers were prosecuted under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Provision and Use of work Equipment Regulations 1998 and fined.

There are many accidents in the health and residential care services involving lifting and often lack of training plays a part. Risk assessments of patients or residents are sometimes not done and patient specific training is often missed. A nurse was injured as she had not been trained to deal with a particular sort of violent patient and had she been so, she would have known that more staff should have been called to assist.

Training on working at heights is another area. Employees of a contractor were using a mobile elevated crane to work on lighting, when the bucket tipped and they were thrown out. Whilst there were faults with the machinery, neither man was wearing a safety harness and had not received training in the safe use of the equipment.

In another accident, an untrained fork lift truck driver had unsecured pieces of metal on the forks of his truck. When he had cause to brake, the inevitable happened and a co worker was injured by the falling metal. The employers where prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive under the Health & Safety at Work Act, received fines and had to pay the costs.

An office worker was injured whilst carrying heavy boxes and files. He had received no training in manual handling and received compensation for the back injury he received. His employers then ensured that all their staff were trained in lifting techniques even those who were unlikely ever to have to lift anything heavier than a pen. Had they done that before the individual may not have received injury.

Consequences to the employer

Many cases involving lack of training result in prosecution and claims for compensation. Those employers have to then do what they should have done originally, train the staff properly, ensure machinery is maintained and carry out regular risk assessments. Any employer who fails to do this could end up with a claim against them and heavy financial penalty.

If you have been injured at work, either because you have not received any or any adequate training, or have been injured by the actions of an untrained employee, then you may have a right to compensation and should seek appropriate advice.