Health and safety training courses
All employees need to be competent to meet their responsibilities as well as those health and safety standards related to their work set out by the University and the departments. Employees must receive adequate health and safety training on being recruited and when exposed to new risks or taking on new responsibilities. This is a legal requirement.
Those with management responsibilities need to be aware of relevant health and safety legislation and how to manage health and safety in accordance with the University's policies and standards.
All employees need to be able to work in a safe and healthy manner and all new employees must have a health and safety induction. Please refer to the health and safety competence and training matrix (.docx) or speak with your line manager for details on the training required for your role.
If further assistance is needed, please email safety@essex.ac.uk
Training Schedule - 2025-26
Courses for the 2025-26 academic year have been arranged, please see the health and safety training schedule (.pdf) for more details.
Please note that all dates/times and venues are subject to change. Please check on HR Organiser for the most up to date schedule.
Course outlines
The courses below are provided regularly and can be booked onto via HR Organiser.
Please note most courses are run face to face in Colchester - check HR Organiser for location details.
Where needed, courses can also be arranged for specific departments/teams on request. We normally need a minimum of eight delegates to run each course.
Management and Risk Assessment
Managing Health and Safety Essentials
Audience
Mandatory course for all Directors and Heads of Department, and for Line Managers and Principal Investigators in high risk / complex risk areas. Recommended for anyone who has responsibility for health and safety such as HSLOs and DHSOs.
Session
This briefing covers your responsibilities for managing health and safety and gives an overview of what the University has in place to help you. The course focuses on the health and safety management system.
This course is assessed with a multiple choice test.
Duration
2 hours
Frequency
Monthly
Risk Assessment Essentials
Audience
Mandatory course for all Directors and Heads of Department, and for Line Managers and Principal Investigators in high risk / complex risk areas. Recommended for anyone who completes or approves risk assessments.
Session
This course is for staff who carry out risk assessments or review risk assessments carried out by others as part of their job. You will be taken through the risk assessment process, and we will signpost you to tools available to help you to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. You will also have the opportunity to work through a practical example.
This course is assessed with a multiple choice test.
Duration
2-3 hours
Frequency
Monthly
Risk Assessment Essentials (for Directors only)
Audience
This session is for Directors and senior leaders only.
Session
A condensed overview of the University’s risk assessment process designed for Directors and senior leaders who oversee teams completing risk assessments.
Duration
1 hour
Frequency
Termly
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
Audience
Employees who may be required to carry out or co-ordinate COSHH assessments.
Session
This course is for staff who carry out COSHH risk assessments or review risk assessments carried out by others as part of their job. Hazardous substances are handled and stored across the University in a range of departments. Some substances can cause short term and/or long-term health effects and could cause fire and environmental hazards.
Duration
2 hours
Frequency
Bi-monthly (alternate months)
Stress Risk Assessment
Audience
Required for managers at grade 8 and above, but all employees are welcome to complete the training.Session
Stress Risk Assessments are a tool to help identify manage and mitigate/control the risks associated with workplace stress. Undertaking a stress risk assessment will involve a manager, an individual or a team, it will give the manager an opportunity to look closely at the identified stressors within the HSE six areas of work design which can affect stress levels to rise. The manager will then be able to implement targeted interventions to control the risks to the individual as far as reasonably practicable.
This training has been created to ensure that managers are able to support their teams in managing stress and using stress risk assessments when needed.
Delivery
This course is delivered as a 3-part training course on Moodle Each part is approx. 15 mins long, and the course does not need to be completed in one sitting.
Role-specific courses
DSE Facilitator
Audience
Recommended for DSE Facilitators who are new in the role or who would like a refresher. Line Managers are welcome to attend to develop their knowledge of DSE.
Session
This course provides delegates with the knowledge to support employees who report DSE related issues. The course details legal responsibilities, the assessment process, hybrid working, and how to complete a DSE Level 2 Assessment.
Duration
2.5 hours
Frequency
Termly
HSLO Induction/Refresher
This course is delivered simultaneously in person at Colchester and via Zoom.
Audience
Health & Safety Liaison Officers (HSLOs) and Departmental Health and Safety Officers (DHSOs).
Session
This course provides nominated staff members with an introduction to carrying out an annual health and safety inspection and submitting a completed action plan.
Duration
1.5 hours
Frequency
Termly
Fire Marshal
Courses are held both in person and via Zoom. Please contact fire@essex.ac.uk for queries.
Audience
Fire Marshals who are newly nominated or who would like a refresher
Session
This session provides an overview of fire safety and the role of a fire marshal in an evacuation.
Duration
1 hour
Skills and knowledge
Incident Investigations
Audience
Managers, HSLOs or staff members that may be required to complete an incident investigation.
Session
Delegates will learn which are the three main causes of incidents in the workplace and how to carry out a thorough incident investigation using a case study.
Duration
2 hours
Frequency
Termly (from 2026)
Equipment Inspection Training (Trolleys, Step Ladders & Kick Stools)
Audience
Employees who use and/or inspect work equipment.
Session
This course provides delegates the skills to carrying out inspection of work equipment (step ladders, kick stools and trolleys) to ensure it is safe for use and labelled appropriately.
Duration
1 hour
Frequency
Termly
Working at height - Safe use of stepladders, kick stools and low-level platforms
Audience
Employees who work at height
Session
An overview of safe working at height using stepladders, kick stools, and low-level platforms, with a focus on University expectations, legal duties, and simple controls for low-risk access tasks. The session covers selection, pre-use checks, common hazards, and when alternative equipment or additional controls are required.
Duration
1.5 hours
Frequency
Termly
Back Care Awareness (Manual Handling)
Audience
Employees who undertake substantial manual handling operations.
Session
A basic introduction to safe lifting, carrying and back care, highlighting common risks, simple posture and movement principles, and how to minimise strain during everyday tasks. The session covers recognising hazardous lifts, using appropriate manual handling equipment, and knowing when to seek assistance.
It is strongly recommended that if you have injuries or medical conditions that prevent you from safely undertaking manual handling activities, including pregnancy, you do not attend.
Duration
1.5 hours
Little used outlet flushing (Legionella)
Audience
Employees who conduct or manage outlet flushing.
Please note this is not the training required for duty holders in the Legionella Policy.
Session
A short introduction to why little-used outlet flushing is required and the simple steps involved in carrying it out safely. The session covers what to flush, how often, basic precautions, and how to record completion.
Duration
30 minutes
Frequency
Termly
Contractor Management
Permit to Work Induction
Audience
Employees who are responsible for contractor management
Session
A focused introduction to the University’s Permit to Work process, outlining when a PTW is required, how permits are issued, and the roles and responsibilities within the system. The session covers University procedures, and expectations for managing high-risk work safely and consistently.
Attendees must have attended an external permit to work course prior to attending this session.
Duration
1.5 hours
Frequency
Termly
Contractor Management CPD
Audience
Optional session for any person involved in the management of contractors
Session
This session provides a concise reminder of the University’s contractor management processes, key roles, and best-practice expectations. It also includes updates on requirements to ensure safe, compliant, and well-coordinated contracted works.
Duration
1 hour
Frequency
Termly (from 2026)
