Rank: Forum user 
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Folks
I need some advice and guidance. If you are the health and safety manager in a company am I right in saying that it is the companies responsibility to ensure that you receive regular and ongoing training to enable you to keep up to date with all new health and safety legislation and practices. Surely, this is the case if your name, qualifications and memebership of professional bodies are being used in tenders, with insurance companies and any possible investigation's by enforcement bodies etc. Is there a legal requirement. Are you not putting yourself at risk from prosecution if you do not keep up to date and receive regular training. I would appreciate some argument.
Thanks folks
PS this is just an intersting topic that I often heard mentioned. ED
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Rank: Super forum user
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Assuming you are an employee.
I think it depends upon the generosity of any particular company to some extent.
Some companies will pay to get you trained, others expect you to pay for your own development.
Hence why it can be difficult for new starters to get their first h&s job. No qualifications, no job - company won't pay. If you are new to safety and the job is an internal transfer, then your company is likely to pay.
For specialist training courses then your argument is stronger, that the company should pay.
As for putting yourself at risk of prosecution - this is highly unlikely (unless you do something really stupid/give really bad advice). See principles of vicarous liability.
If you are an employee of the company, it is up to the company to ensure it seeks h&s advice from a suitably trained and competent person(s).
To take my own h&s qualiications
NEBOSH General Cert 1994 - I paid
NEBOSH Diploma 1998 - My employer
Various short courses - employer paid - PUWER/Machiney safety course, HAZOP leaders course
Now self/employed via my own company - I (My company - for tax reasons) pay for any training courses (last course was SIL/LOPA assessments).
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Rank: Forum user
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"Are you not putting yourself at risk from prosecution if you do not keep up to date and receive regular training?"
Answer: No.
If you attend and complete MMH training it will expire over time. A safety qualification, like the cert, diploma, degree etc., will not. Once you have the qualification, that's it, you're qualified. You do not need to repeat this.
The problem lies in stagnating. In a situation where you are in a job for, say, 20 years and nothing changes and no advancements are made you may be guilty of not moving with the times. It's highly unlikely, however. You, and you company as a whole, would need to be progressing in a vacuum for this to occur.
Proof of this progression has become very important indeed and so most organisations employ CPD as a means of both providing continuous development and recording it.
Remember also that qualifications are proof of learning competency. CPD helps to carry that forward. If your not doing CPD, don't worry, if you sat down and recorded what you've achieved in the past 1, 2, or 5 years it would probably ammount to the same thing.
Mick
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I don't see why you would need training to keep up to date with new legislation. Internet access would suffice.
If you don't keep up to date or learn anything then you are failing in the CPD requirement for your professional membership and I suggest the most likely sanction is not prosecution but a slap on the wrist from IOSH.
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with the previous comments. That said, if a company requires say a CMIOSH person and that is also articulated in your JD, then I think there is a good argument that the company should provide a certain level of support and possibly training. I also think they are obliged to pay for your IOSH membership - just my opinion.
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Rank: Forum user
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Ray
Thats the point I am trying to make. Surely if we spend much of our own time keeping up to date with legislation and practices, is it to much to expect some investment in training and support.
Katie
I partially agree with your comment, however I think sometimes reading about legislation and other health and safety issues from the internet and out of books is not as good as receiving training from experienced practioners who are specialised and practice in different fields. Thats only my thoghts on it. Thanks Folks
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Rank: Forum user 
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