Reducing workplace accidents: advice for employees

3. Information and training

Employees have a right to receive information about the risks to your health and safety, preventive measures, first aid and emergency procedures. Training should be relevant and understandable, including for workers who speak a different language. It should be provided for new workers and for existing workers when work practices or work equipment change, with a change of job, or when new technology is introduced.

But you also have a duty to co-operate with employers’ preventive measures, following instructions in accordance with training given and taking care of their own and workmates’ safety and health. You need to understand how to work safely.

Training should be focused on:

• principles of the safety management system and the employees’ responsibilities
• specific hazards and risks at work
• the skills needed to carry out tasks
• procedures that should be followed to avoid any risk
• preventive measures to be taken before, during, and after the task
• specific safety and health instructions for working with technical equipment and dangerous products
• information on collective and individual protection
• where employees can get information on safety and health issues
• who should be contacted about emerging risks or in case of emergency.