TRAINING - 13.01.2022

Is accredited training worth the extra cost?

There is a wide array of options and prices for health and safety training, with courses which are accredited by well-known bodies usually the most expensive. How do you know if they’re worth it?

On your guard

When shopping for training courses you need to be careful not to get drawn in to buying the wrong one. A cheap online course, for example, might not be sufficiently impactful or in-depth for your needs. A multi-day residential course might be completely over the top.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed if your first port of call is a general internet search, so we recommend that you begin more cautiously.

Step one

The first decision to make is what specific training is required for your employee? You should identify if there’s a minimum standard, or a good reason to follow a particular path. A check of our library of articles may guide you in the right direction, or you could do a topic search on the HSE’s website (see The next step ). A good example of courses which come in all shapes and sizes is first aid. The training on this subject has been deregulated so in theory you have a free hand. But, in practice, for most employers it makes sense to stick with standard offerings such as the one day Emergency First Aid at Work course.

For more general training such as health and safety management, you might go for a self-study option, a bespoke face-to-face course on site, or an off-the-shelf accredited course. You could justify any of these choices depending on your needs.

Tip. As a general guide, health and safety training which is fairly broad, such as management training or information on the law, does not need to be accredited.

Tip. When you get to more specific topics such as using high risk equipment, there are advantages to using a course that has instant credibility, e.g. for tower scaffold erection an accredited course from the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (PASMA) is your best bet.

The benefits of accreditation

By selecting a course that is accredited by a well-known body such as the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, PASMA, and so on, you tap in to an established training system. It saves you the trouble of working out if it’s a good course and an effective trainer, because those organisations have quality control systems in place.

Should you ever need to defend your decision in court, you’re unlikely to have a problem if you used an accredited course provider. Another factor for contractors is that that clients and principal contractors may demand certain certifications, effectively taking the decision out of your hands.

There are circumstances when it’s more appropriate to go your own way. For example, you could find that a large proportion of a standard course is not directly relevant to your activities.

Tip. If you’re going it alone with a course that could appear to be cutting some corners, ensure that there’s a good reason for doing so. Also collect evidence that the trainer is competent to deliver it, and ensure that knowledge of the candidates will be assessed on completion of the course.

For a link to the HSE’s website, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 20, issue 09.

Accreditation gives assurance of the quality of trainer and content and is especially useful for high risk practical work. However, if a standard course doesn’t meet your needs, select an alternative which covers your requirements and is delivered by a competent trainer.