Health and safety course helps local butcher

Posted 20 June 2016

A part-time health and safety course at Harper Adams University has had a constructive impact on one participant’s life outside of work.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Managing Safely course was first run in April, receiving a positive response from participants. Additional training dates have now been organised.

Jason Hilliard, a butcher at Harper Adams, initially went on the course to improve his awareness of health and safety issues at work: “I decided to go on the course because I’ve always had an interest in health and safety; there are obviously dangerous objects and a lot of manhandling in the butchery profession.”

Furthermore, the 29-year-old from Brockton now believes the course has not only been applicable in the workplace, but also in the home: “Once you’ve done the course, you do also think about the risks in your personal life, not just in your professional one. For example, I now get the step-ladder out when I want to get into the attic, instead of climbing on the banister like I did before!

“I’m definitely more safety conscious now than before the course."

The four-day Managing Safely course is designed for anyone with responsibility for health and safety, and is delivered by Emma Osborne, Health and Safety Officer at Harper Adams University. 

Jason added: “Emma is brilliant. She would relate to different scenarios and situations so that it was relevant to everyone in the room. She was a very good teacher.”

Topics covered during the course include risk assessment, recognition of the law and legal system in relation to Health and Safety, and the investigation of incidents in the workplace.

Participants complete two assessments on their understanding of basic health and safety; those who pass successfully receive a nationally recognised IOSH Managing Safely certificate.

“The course gives you a greater appreciation of what the risks are and how to negotiate them and protect your staff. You never know when you might need to use it."

The course is next due to run on June 27-28 and July 4-5, and again August 15-18. For more information visit the website, contact Short Courses at SCCO@harper-adams.co.uk or telephone on 01952 815324.