There’s been a big shift towards eLearning to deliver a whole range of different safety and compliance courses. It’s a pretty standard way to update employees on legislative changes or train them during their health and safety induction or on specific topics such as hazardous substances. But what about asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)? Can an asbestos awareness training online course really educate workers effectively on the dangers of this hidden killer?
A quick Google search reveals any number of safety eLearning providers offering asbestos awareness courses. This must mean some sort of industry consensus and government backing for online delivery of asbestos training right? Well, sort of.
It’s not quite that simple and exercising a degree of caution when it comes to asbestos awareness training online through an eLearning delivery platform is completely justified as it’s probably not appropriate for the more high-risk work with ACMs.
Our Asbestos Awareness training course at Praxis42 helps ensure employees can work safely when around asbestos-containing materials, identify risks and know how to avoid problems by reporting hazards.
Asbestos awareness training online – what is asbestos?
According to HSE, asbestos causes around 5,000 deaths per year. Those who are employed or self-employed as tradesmen, such as plumbers and joiners, are at greater risk of exposure given the nature of their work. Around 20 tradesmen die per week as a result of past exposure to dangerous asbestos materials, according to HSE.
Any building constructed before 2000 can contain asbestos. This is not a historical problem that affects only older workers. According to asbestos.com, in 2019 it was estimated that asbestos remains inside 1.5 million buildings across the UK, including schools and hospitals.
If the asbestos fibres present in the fabric of buildings become airborne serious problems can occur. Any kind of asbestos training, whether that’s asbestos awareness online training or in-person, is expected to provide employees with as much information as possible about the dangers of asbestos so they can be vigilant.
The HSE approves of and recognises eLearning as a valid and effective delivery method for asbestos awareness online training, but with certain stipulations. The course content must satisfy the objectives set out in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and their supporting Code of Practice, which replaced the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
What are the benefits of asbestos awareness training online?
Asbestos awareness training online can bring a multitude of benefits to your organisations, such as:
- An increased awareness among your employees about what asbestos is and the dangers it poses.
- Providing them with the knowledge and tools to help them avoid exposure.
- Compliance with current mandatory asbestos regulations.
- Refresh the knowledge of current employees.
- Minimise risks and potential dangers associated with asbestos.
ELearning can really get the asbestos awareness message across. It provides an easy way of being able to refresh knowledge and remind those at risk of the dangers from ACMs that they can access training online via an internet browser anytime and anywhere.
How can I sign up for asbestos awareness training online?
Contact us to learn more about asbestos awareness and how to protect your employees.
Our Asbestos Awareness training course covers topics such as the health risks asbestos poses, compliance with Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and identifying and reporting ACMs. Our training course is IOSH approved and CPD certified.
