Training: health and safety

Overview

Effective health and safety training is essential to make sure everyone has the necessary skills, knowledge and information to do their jobs safely. This section explains our policy and competency framework for health and safety training. It also includes details of current health and safety training arrangements and courses.

Health and safety training policy

The Health and Safety Training Policy and the CHST Training Matrix 2023-24 explain the Council's competency-based approach to health and safety training. It includes mandatory training for managers, including headteachers and senior managers, and employees in certain job roles.

The Individual health and safety training needs assessment form is for managers to use to identify and record the health and safety training needs of their employees. The Health and safety training matrix template can be used to record and monitor employees' health and safety training. 

Training course information

Information about all our courses, including dates and times, is available in our Health and Safety Training Courses 2025. Please note that mandatory courses are free to schools that buy our health and safety package.

To book a place, download the health and safety training course booking form fill in all the required details and email it to employee.healthandsafety@derby.gov.uk.

If you need more specific training, we might be able to develop something for you. Fill out the New training course request form (for new or bespoke courses) and email it to employee.healthandsafety@derby.gov.uk. Please note, that there may be a charge for this.

If you need more information, contact us on 01332 640748.

Cancellation charges

Chief Officer Group has agreed that cancellation charges can be made for delegates who fail to attend courses without any, or insufficient, notice. This is in line with normal practice by training providers.

Charges will apply even if you don’t usually pay for health and safety courses. The charges are:

• 50% of the current course fee for cancellations within two weeks of the course.
• 100% of the fee for ‘no shows’ and cancellations within two days of the course.

e-Learning

The Corporate Health and Safety Team's e-learning course offer is in the following list. These courses have been developed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. (RoSPA)

At the beginning of each course, you will be asked to enter your name. On completion of the course, a pop-up box will appear confirming the level of achievement. 

Please screenshot this page for your records and send it to your School Business Manager/Supervisor as each school is required to keep a record of employee completion.

• Display Screen Equipment
• Fire Safety and Evacuation - non-audio
• Safe Manual Handling - non-audio
• Asbestos Awareness - non-audio
• Working at Height with Access Equipment - non-audio
• Introduction to Risk Assessment - non-audio

Nicky and the Health and Safety Team

Telephone: 01332 640748, email: employee.healthandsafety@derby.gov.uk.

Mandatory e-Learning 

Mandatory refresher training

Managers and supervisors must complete mandatory refresher training every three years. You must complete the four half-day courses first. 

First aid training

First aid training is not delivered directly by the Corporate Health and Safety team.

Please contact the Corporate Health and Safety team by telephone on 01332 640748 or by email at employee.healthandsafety@derby.gov.uk to discuss your first-aid training needs and options for suppliers.

First aid

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require that all workplaces have suitable and sufficient cover for providing first aid to people who are injured or who become ill at work. Although the regulations outline the essential aspects of first aid that must be provided, no fixed levels of equipment or personnel are stated. The level of first-aid cover needed should be determined by carrying out an assessment of the risks present within individual workplaces.

Purpose

The Council’s first aid policy and guidance document sets the requirements for providing adequate first aid provision at work in the Council. The purpose is to provide suitably trained and equipped personnel to treat colleagues and others using our sites if they become ill or injured.

Scope

The Council undertakes numerous activities that present significantly different risks and therefore require varying levels of first aid. This policy recognises this variation and provides the method for determining the level of appropriate first-aid provision required in relation to people and equipment by the completion of a first-aid needs assessment for each workplace.

Sections

• Section 1: First-aid needs assessment
• Section 2: First-aid materials, equipment and facilities
• Section 3: First-aid personnel
• Section 4: First-aid training

There are six appendices which mirror the four sections of this procedure with a final checklist to assist managers.

What managers need to do

• Read the policy
• Consider the circumstances of your workplace, workforce and the health and safety risks that may be present to help you decide what arrangements you need to put in place.
• Complete the First Aid Needs Assessment (FANA)
• Decide the minimum level of first-aid equipment and facilities you may need, this could be a suitably stocked first-aid box or in some circumstances a first-aid room.
• Decide the level of first-aid support, if you need a first aider. This is someone who has been trained by a competent first-aid training provider in first aid at work, emergency first aid at work, or some other appropriate level of training.
• Ensure first aiders are trained to appropriate levels identified in your needs assessment.
• Update first-aider lists to reflect those currently trained.

For further information, support or guidance, contact the Corporate Health and Safety Team by emailing employee.healthandsafety@derby.gov.uk.