Use group exercises and discussions, youtube safety videos, anything. For instance, in the fore section, get people mto talk about their fire experiences, talk about well know fire dusasters and so on - you can do this for anything. On the bit about safety policy, give them a handout of a good one off the internet and than a bad one you have made up - and so on.

Do people think that the 4 day Managing Safely Forum is appropriate for those managing ina n office environment.? How many think that managing Safely needs a 'freshening up'?

If you are all in the same organisation why not use the course to improve the company policy and procedures and get everyone involved introducing the improvements? Get the Managers to discuss their work experiences within the company as that will no doubt interest managers from other disciplines? Give them plenty of homework and discuss their homework the following morning/session, that always gets them interested and passes some time if you get some good discussions going?

Hi Linda - although the times may seem generous at first glance they don't include discussion time which, given your people are inernal and presumably already familar with you and each other, you may well get a lot of. There are also mock exams at the end of some of the modules that also take up some time - and often start some lively discussiosns - which I would strongly recommend you do as it gets people into the form of questions they'll need to answer. I generally don't plan on any 'padding' as I don't find I need it. If you finishh one module early you may well find you over run on others. I let the trainees go wherever they wish with questions and discussion as I think it's an important part of learning. I'd run with the course material for your first run through and after the first or second day, if you're really getting ahead of schedule, you could then add in some of the additional material you have in mind

Linda I take time to show the H&S resources that are available on the intranet to help managers achieve their obligations. As Stephen says, you will be surprised where the time goes - in addition to the games, discussions, mock tests, intranet resources and an explanation of the project the time is pretty much up. I also add in some discussion about some of the hazards that are not really explored in module 5. For example some time on asbestos, maternity risk assessments and confined spaces - these may or may not be relevant to your organisation. I generally ask at the start of the course are there any topics of concern the attendees have, if it is not on the syllabus list then I try and make some reference to it in the relevant part of the course. Case studies and anecdotes are always useful to include, they stimulate discussion and therefore enjoyment. Managing Safely is being reviewed at the moment - I certainly took part in a survey about it - so an updated version can be expected some time soon. Hope this helps Stuart

Thanks guys, all useful advice and much appreciated. BR Linda

Linda, use what the company has as the fillers, policiy and procedues, risk assessments etc. Quite often you find that although they know about them they are not really aware of the content. At each module use something in the workplace, to discuss this way it improves your own workplace. I also use areas for hazard spotting exercises and then try and incorporate this into risk assessments or for a later module. The only thing i don't like about the course is it seems to jump around a bit, and then someone decided to add environment in. Other than this most people appear to enjoy it.