Shocking stat reveals lack of health and safety training for line managers

A survey has revealed that one in five line managers receive no health and safety training from their employer.

The YouGov survey of nearly 700 company decision-makers found that despite 96% of respondents agreeing that line managers are important in keeping their teams safe, 19% don’t train them.

A fifth (21%) said investigations into accidents had shown a management failure was a contributing factor.

The findings of the survey have prompted the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to urge organisations to ensure line managers have access to IOSH training.

The survey also asked whether investing in externally-provided health and safety courses drove business benefits, with 82% saying it did.

Of those surveyed, 39% said they had experienced a reduction in lost time because of accidents, 36% said their reputation within their supply chain had been enhanced, while 30% said they had recorded increased productivity because of fewer accidents.

Nearly half (46%) of all survey respondents who said they invest in externally-provided courses for managers said they had used IOSH’s Managing Safely, which is designed to provide all managers with the ability to apply the knowledge they gain in the workplace.

Aegis provides a range of IOSH approved health and safety training courses for line managers, including Managing Safely.

Our training can be delivered at a customer’s premises or venue of their choice, alternatively at our fully equipped training centre in Preston.

For further information, please contact Aegis’s Ian Dandy, a Chartered Fellow Safety and Health Practitioner, on 01772 736522.