Is IOSH Managing Safely Useful to Transport Sectors?

Transport is an extremely dynamic and multifaceted sector that encompasses everything from road haulage to public transport and rail. Given the myriad of hazards involved in these areas, it is vital that employers have access to health and safety training that has broad applications.

One of the primary concerns for organisations when selecting health and safety training is whether it will be useful for their employees' roles. IOSH Managing Safely has been the key starting point for many transport organisations for this very reason, thanks to its extremely practical approach.

IOSH Managing Safely Applications to Transport

In the transport sector, the IOSH Managing Safely has many practical applications that learners will encounter in their day-to-day work, such as:

Risk Assessment and Management

One of the cornerstones of the IOSH Managing Safely course is teaching participants how to conduct thorough risk assessments. In the transport industry, being able to conduct a risk assessment is useful due to the constant interaction between heavy machinery, vehicles, and personnel. Other applicable risks that are addressed in IOSH Managing Safely include:

• Vehicle Collisions.
• Manual Handling.
• Driving Ergonomics.
• Weather Conditions.
• Lifting and Carrying.
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI).
• Slips, Trips and Falls.
• Fuels and Chemicals.
• Accident Emergency Procedures.

Many of these risks can have drastic consequences if they occur, but by applying the principles learned in the course, managers can help minimise that risk to the smallest likelihood as is reasonably practicable.

Accident Investigation

The IOSH Managing Safely course equips participants with the skills to investigate these incidents methodically. In the transport industry, where accidents can lead to very severe consequences, understanding the root causes is essential for preventing any repeated incidents. Effective accident investigation also plays a crucial role in complying with regulatory requirements and avoiding potential legal issues. This knowledge will prevent recurrence by addressing underlying issues, be it through retraining staff, improving maintenance schedules, or enhancing safety protocols.

Legal and Moral Responsibilities

The transport sectors are also heavily involved with the public and have a dual responsibility to ensure the public’s safety as well as their employees. The IOSH Managing Safely course provides a thorough understanding of health and safety legislation and laws, which is critical in a heavily regulated industry like transport.

Managers learn about their legal obligations, helping them to maintain compliance with laws such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulations relevant to transport sectors, including:

• Road
• Rail
• Maritime

Improving Safety Culture

A positive safety culture is the bedrock of effective health and safety management. The IOSH Managing Safely course promotes the development of a proactive safety culture by encouraging managers to lead by example. In transport industries, where workers are often dispersed and work independently, fostering a safety-first mindset is crucial. Managers trained in IOSH principles can better communicate the importance of safety, engage their teams in safety practices, and ensure that health and safety are integral to everyday operations.

Adaptability to Various Transport Sectors

The transport industry is diverse, encompassing sectors with unique challenges, such as aviation, maritime, rail, and road transport. The IOSH Managing Safely course’s flexibility makes it adaptable to the specific needs of these different sectors. For instance, while the fundamental principles remain the same, the course can be tailored to focus on specific hazards and regulatory requirements relevant to each sector. This adaptability ensures that the training remains relevant and practical, providing value across the entire spectrum of transport operations.

IOSH Managing Safely Transport Sector Benefits

Because of its broad application, the IOSH Managing Safely has many benefits that are relevant to all sectors.

1. Better Safety Culture: Transport employees often work independently and are dispersed across various locations, which highlights the need for them to be able to self-govern their own safety protocols. Managers who understand IOSH training principles are better equipped to communicate the importance of safety, which subsequently embeds a safety culture.
2. Transport Hazards Are Identified Earlier: The hazards covered in IOSH Managing Safely are more easily spotted as learners will know what to look for. If hazards are spotted earlier, then control measures can be put in place earlier.
3. Effective Accident Investigations: Although you will have drastically reduced the number of accidents, other extenuating factors out of your control (human error, etc.) might lead to an accident. The course will walk managers through the necessary steps to investigate the cause of an accident and what issues to address to prevent similar accidents from happening in future.

IOSH Managing Safely Courses for Transport Sectors

For organisations in the transport sector, we have many options for employees to study the course through. They are:

• Classroom
• Virtual
• Online
• On-Site

We strongly recommend that transport organisations enrol their employees in the online IOSH Managing Safely course below, as that offers the most flexibility for their schedules. We understand how busy the transport sector can become, and we have tailored our course to maximise information retention so that managers come away knowing everything they need to know in a time-efficient manner.