Staying safe while working at heights is essential, and yet it’s easy for bad habits to creep in over time. Workers can become complacent and make mistakes, and some may even be unaware of updates in safety protocols. That’s why a work-at-height training refresher provides the knowledge and reminders needed to prevent accidents and maintain compliance with work-at-height regulations.
Let’s look closer at why regular refreshers are critical, and why online work at height training can help your business remain on the right side of the law.
A Timely Reminder
No matter how experienced a worker may be, time and familiarity can lead to lapses in memory or complacency, and sometimes even over-confidence. It doesn’t really matter how long work at height training is valid for because when workers repeatedly perform tasks at heights, essential safety steps can start to feel redundant and cause them to start skipping certain precautions.
A work-at-height training refresher serves as a timely reminder of the proper techniques and procedures to stay safe and underlines the importance of using fall protection systems like guardrails or harnesses. By revisiting these fundamental aspects of work-at-height safety, workers are far less likely to take unnecessary risks.
Refreshers Address Mistakes
Workers may develop unsafe shortcuts or bad habits, such as overreaching while on a ladder or using improper equipment for a task. These errors might not always lead to immediate consequences, but they can certainly accumulate into outright dangerous practices over time.
Online work at height training identifies these common mistakes and provides solutions to correct them. For example, workers can learn how to choose the right equipment for a specific task, ensure ladders are positioned safely, and avoid overloading equipment beyond its weight capacity.
Refreshers Improve Your Knowledge
Safety regulations and equipment are always evolving, and keeping up-to-date is crucial for workplace safety. The workers themselves may not be aware of policy changes, or when new tools and technologies are available to make tasks safer, so it is the responsibility of the employer or whoever is controlling the work at height.
An online work-at-height training course ensures employees are equipped with the latest information and skills. This is particularly important when managers or workers ask, ‘How long is work at height training valid for?’, as depending on the jurisdiction or workplace policies, training may need to be refreshed every year or after any significant policy change.
A Refresher Maintains Awareness
Consistent training keeps hazard identification and risk assessment at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Workers are reminded to inspect equipment thoroughly, recognise unstable surfaces, and evaluate potential environmental risks like high winds or slippery conditions. Renewing their focus on these elements reinforces the seriousness of work at height.
An online work-at-height training refresher program is a convenient and flexible way to deliver high-quality, engaging content that can be completed at a worker’s own pace, so businesses can ensure employees remain competent and completely safe.
Find out more about work at height training refresher programs at Ability International, for anyone who undertakes work at height, or who employs people who regularly work at height.
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