12 Health and Safety Training Examples

A missed risk assessment, one poorly handled spill, or one employee who never learned the right manual handling technique can create costs far beyond a training budget. That is why health and safety training examples matter. They help employers see what good training looks like in practice and help learners choose courses that are relevant, recognised and useful on the job.

The right programme is not only about meeting a legal or policy requirement. It is about giving people the knowledge to work safely, respond properly when something goes wrong, and reduce avoidable incidents before they happen. For employers, that means better compliance and a stronger safety culture. For individual learners, it means practical skills and certification that employers value.

Why health and safety training examples are useful

Many organisations know they need training but are less clear on what type of training fits their risks. A construction firm, a care provider and an office-based business will not need exactly the same course mix. Looking at health and safety training examples makes it easier to match training to the workplace, the role and the level of responsibility.

It also helps avoid a common mistake - treating all safety training as interchangeable. Some courses are broad and awareness-based, while others are role-specific or designed for managers. A sensible training plan usually combines both.

1. Manual handling training

Manual handling remains one of the most common causes of workplace injury. Training in this area teaches staff how to lift, carry, push and pull safely, as well as how to reduce strain through planning and proper technique.

This is especially relevant in warehouses, healthcare settings, retail, hospitality and any environment where staff move stock, equipment or people. The value of the training is practical and immediate, but it works best when paired with workplace controls such as suitable equipment and realistic staffing levels.

2. Fire safety awareness

Fire safety training is a core requirement in many workplaces because everyone needs to know what to do in an emergency. A good course covers prevention, common fire hazards, alarm procedures, evacuation routes and the safe use of extinguishers where appropriate.

For some staff, awareness training is enough. For fire wardens or marshals, a more detailed level of instruction is normally required. That distinction matters, because a generic course may not be suitable for those with formal emergency responsibilities.

3. First aid awareness

Not every employee needs to be a qualified first aider, but basic first aid awareness can still be valuable across a workforce. It gives staff a clearer understanding of how to respond calmly, when to call for help and how to support an injured person before trained assistance arrives.

In higher-risk settings, formal first aid certification may be needed. In lower-risk environments, awareness training often strengthens overall preparedness without creating unnecessary complexity.

4. Display screen equipment training

Office-based work is often treated as low risk, but musculoskeletal issues, eye strain and poor workstation setup are common problems. Display screen equipment training helps staff adjust chairs, screens and keyboards correctly, and recognise when a setup is contributing to discomfort.

This type of training became even more relevant with hybrid and home working. Employers cannot assume staff know how to set up a safe workstation just because they use a laptop every day.

5. Working at height training

Any task carried out at height brings a level of risk that needs careful control. Training in this area may cover ladders, step ladders, scaffolding awareness, fall prevention and safe planning.

This is one of the clearest examples of where job role matters. Someone occasionally using a step ladder in a stockroom will need different training from a worker operating regularly on a construction site. The principle is the same, but the required depth is not.

6. COSHH training

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health training is essential wherever staff use, store or handle chemicals or other hazardous substances. That includes obvious sectors such as manufacturing and cleaning, but also healthcare, beauty, maintenance and education.

A strong COSHH course explains labels, exposure routes, storage, personal protective equipment and what to do in the event of contact or spillage. It is particularly useful because chemical risks are often underestimated when substances are part of routine daily work.

7. Asbestos awareness training

Asbestos awareness training is relevant for many workers in maintenance, refurbishment, construction and related trades. It teaches people how to identify likely asbestos-containing materials, understand the risks and avoid disturbing them.

This is awareness training, not a licence to remove asbestos. That distinction should always be clear. The aim is to prevent accidental exposure and ensure staff know when specialist action is required.

8. Slips, trips and falls training

These incidents happen across almost every sector and are one of the most persistent causes of workplace injury. Training usually covers housekeeping, spill response, footwear, cable management, lighting and hazard reporting.

The reason this training works well is that the lessons are simple and highly applicable. Even so, it should not be treated as a box-ticking exercise. If the workplace has poor flooring, inadequate cleaning processes or unrealistic workloads, training alone will not solve the problem.

9. Food safety and hygiene training

In catering, hospitality, food retail and care settings, food safety training supports both legal compliance and public health. Depending on the role, staff may need a basic understanding of contamination, storage temperatures, cleaning and allergen awareness, or a more advanced qualification.

Choosing the right level matters. Entry-level staff may need foundation knowledge, while supervisors often need training that reflects their responsibility for standards and monitoring.

10. Mental health and wellbeing training

Health and safety is not limited to physical hazards. Mental health and wellbeing training helps organisations recognise stress, burnout, poor workplace communication and early signs that someone may need support.

For managers, this kind of course can be particularly useful because they often influence workload, culture and employee confidence in reporting concerns. The training does not replace clinical expertise, but it can improve conversations, signposting and day-to-day management.

11. IOSH Working Safely

IOSH Working Safely is a recognised example of general workplace health and safety training for employees. It gives learners a clear introduction to hazards, risks, responsibilities and safe working practices without overwhelming them with unnecessary detail.

This makes it a strong option for organisations that want a credible, accredited foundation course across a broad workforce. It is also useful for individuals who want recognised certification that demonstrates safety awareness to current or future employers.

12. IOSH Managing Safely

For supervisors and managers, IOSH Managing Safely is one of the most practical health and safety training examples available. It focuses on the responsibilities of those who plan work, oversee teams and make day-to-day decisions that affect risk.

That managerial focus is what makes it valuable. A manager does not need the same training as a front-line employee, because the role includes monitoring controls, investigating incidents and leading safe working practices. Where responsibility increases, training should increase with it.

How to choose the right health and safety training examples

The best choice depends on the workplace, the role and the level of risk. A small office may prioritise fire safety, display screen equipment and mental health awareness. A construction contractor may need working at height, asbestos awareness, manual handling and site-specific safety training. A care provider may focus on moving and handling, first aid, infection control and wellbeing.

Accreditation is another key factor. If training needs to stand up to employer scrutiny, internal audit or client expectations, recognised certification carries more weight than informal learning alone. It also gives learners confidence that the content has been designed to a credible standard.

Delivery method matters too. Online learning is often the most practical route for busy teams and individual learners because it allows training to fit around shifts, workloads and existing commitments. That said, some subjects benefit from blended delivery or practical assessment. It depends on the risk and the competence required.

When online training works best

Online courses are especially effective for awareness training, refresher learning and accredited theory-based subjects. They help organisations scale training across multiple sites and allow individuals to complete recognised courses quickly and easily.

For employers, that means less disruption and clearer training records. For learners, it means accessible study that does not require travel or time away from work. Providers such as Training Via Technology meet that need by offering accredited, self-paced courses designed for practical workplace use rather than academic theory.

A better way to think about safety training

The strongest training plans are not built around the question, what course can we buy quickly. They are built around a better question - what do our people need to know to work safely and confidently in their actual roles? When you start there, the right courses become much easier to identify, and the training is far more likely to make a real difference.

If you are reviewing your options, start with the risks, match training to responsibilities, and choose recognised learning that people can complete without unnecessary barriers. Good training should be easy to access, credible when it counts, and useful the moment the learner returns to work.