A guide to accredited health and safety training

Health and safety plays a vital role in the well-being of staff and students, especially in subjects like design technology. Every school must ensure robust health and safety practices and well-trained staff. Accredited health and safety training is one option that can help schools meet this obligation.

What is accredited training?

Design & technology association certification

Accredited training refers to any program or course reviewed and approved by a professional organisation. These organisations, such as the Design & Technology Association, are recognised authorities in their respective fields.

They ensure that the training courses they endorse meet high standards of quality and relevance. This is the same for any health and safety training course. What sets accredited training courses apart from unaccredited training is their merit.

Accreditation is awarded to any course that adheres to the relevant regulatory standards. The course will also undergo a rigorous evaluation process before receiving accreditation. In most cases, accredited courses cover everything on a specific topic relevant to the corresponding career or industry.

Accredited health and safety training courses ensure schools comply with the applicable legislation. Consequently, this seeks to create a safer learning environment that will ensure the well-being and safety of both staff and students.

Health and safety training can also empower staff and boost confidence, delivering better student learning experiences. While accredited training courses may require a higher investment, they provide a significantly higher standard of training.

The recognition by professional bodies ensures the quality and merit of gaining such accredited certifications, offering reassurance about the value and effectiveness of the training.

What are the benefits of accredited health and safety training?

A modern school DT workshop

Design technology is a highly practical subject that uses tools, machinery, and other equipment. However, these practical opportunities come with a risk of injury. As such, every school can benefit from accredited health and safety training.

Here are just some of the major benefits you can gain from accredited health and safety training courses:

  • Ensure a safe and secure design technology workshop environment.
  • Provide staff with the confidence to manage and maintain a safe learning environment.
  • Ensure your school adheres to the relevant health and safety regulations and laws.
  • Empower staff to identify hazards and assess risks.
  • Train staff to minimise, handle, and control risks or hazards.
  • Provide CPD training opportunities for staff.
  • Adhere to health and safety considerations for DT workshops.

Most design technology-accredited health and safety training courses are designed to be highly practical. They provide a hands-on experience so that all attendees can safely use machines and tools in an educational setting.

This practical approach ensures that the training is informative and directly applicable to your DT department’s day-to-day operations.

What accredited health and safety training is available?

Machinery in a school DT workshop

The Design & Technology Associations or CLEAPSS offer the most accredited health and safety training for design technology in schools. Both are professional bodies that offer a range of accredited training courses.

Design & Technology Association

The Design & Technology Association (D&TA) is a professional organisation that offers support, advice, and training for those involved in teaching design, technology, and engineering. The D&TA provides a range of training courses for experienced and inexperienced staff.

One of the D&TA’s core actions is to provide high-quality professional development to D&T professionals. They also seek to help new and experienced teachers gain and develop skills, confidence, and competence to excel in teaching.

The D&TA have a regular schedule of training events, including refresher courses for those with expired certifications, CPD training, and legislation updates. They also have a dedicated health and safety training programme for schools.

CLEAPPS

CLEAPPS is another professional organisation that offers health and safety training and supports practical science and technology in schools and colleges. It provides many resources, training courses, and guidance on all DT disciplines.

CLEAPPS offers a range of different health and safety courses in design technology. Training options are available for technicians, teachers, heads of departments, safety offices, advisors, and senior leaders.

Some courses available are self-study that can be carried out online, while others have a set date and venue. However, the training options are not as extensive as those offered by the D&TA. Some courses, such as the self-study options, do not provide accredited certifications.

Learning Space Solutions

At Learning Space Solutions, we excel in delivering high-quality, accredited training courses. We provide various services to ensure your department and staff provide safe learning environments and comply with legislation.

All our health and safety training and machine maintenance services are provided alongside our specialist partner, Designed By Me Consultancy Ltd and Mark Elwell. You can find more information on Designed By Me Consultancy and Mark Elwell below.

Health and safety accredited training

A school DT workshop

We provide accredited health and safety training to international schools. All our health and safety training courses provide an accredited D&TA certification and follow the accreditation scheme.

Along with our special partners, we can offer any elements from the D&TA accreditation scheme, providing health and safety training tailored to the school. We can also tailor our courses around your machinery or staff development needs.

Several training options are available, either as a one-day or two-day course. Course length depends on the chosen program and machine number due to the minimum training times per equipment. Our training options include:

  • Machinery training
  • Technician training
  • Machines servicing
  • Health and safety audits
  • Skills-based training
  • CPD training

Find out more about our D&TA approved health and safety training course.

Machine training

DT workshop machinery on top of a workbench

Accredited D&TA machine training is available. This training course, which is part of the D&TA accreditation scheme, seeks to ensure all staff work in accordance with BS4163 when using tools and machinery.

BS4163 is the standard code of practice for DT in schools. The D&TA accreditation scheme is widely recognised and respected in the industry, and holding an accredited certification can enhance your professional reputation and career prospects.

This training course is ideal for anyone working in a DT department, whether teaching assistants, teachers, technicians, or department heads. The accreditation scheme is designed for all staff regardless of their experience or training level.

The accredited machine training course is divided into CORE, SMHS, and specialist machinery. The CORE element focuses on paperwork and legal aspects, including risk assessments, LEV, and COSHH.

The SMHS element focuses on the wide range of machinery and processes in school DT workshops. Finally, the specialist machinery section covers 12 elements for you to choose from based on your school facilities.

Completing the machine training course will award participants with an accredited certification from the D&TA. This certification is digital only and valid for five years from the date of issue.

Health and safety audit

Alongside our accredited health and safety training courses, we provide health and safety audits to DT departments. Every school must adhere to applicable health and safety legislation and regulations.

A health and safety review should be conducted every 12, 24, or 36 months to ensure compliance and best practices per regulations. We provide specialist health and safety audits to support your DT department and ensure compliance.

Our health and safety audit ensures your DT department is safe and compliant with COSHH regulations, CLEAPPS guidance, and the BS4163 code of practice. An experienced DT consultant carries out all audits.

The audit will identify good and outstanding practices and areas that require development or immediate action. After the audit, we will provide a full written report and photographic evidence.

The health and safety audit report will detail compliance with DT machinery and the workshop environment, provide in-depth statements of what actions are required for compliance, and provide recommendations. A verbal feedback presentation is also available upon request.

About Designed By Me Consultancy & Mark Elwell

Designed By Me Consultancy Ltd provides high-quality training, support, and services to design technology departments. Mark Elwell, its founder and senior consultant, has over 25 years of experience teaching design technology.

Mark has worked in both state and independent schools since 1995 and has gained experience as head of the DT department and head of faculty. He also has a p601 LEV certificate and a BA in Design and Technology with Education.

Alongside his consultancy services, Mark is a leading health and safety consultant for the D&TA and a member of the CLEAPSS Steering Group committee. In this role, Mark helps promote quality and effective practical work in STEM subjects.

Mark runs all our health and safety training programs. Our special partnership with Designed By Me Consultancy allows us to provide a wealth of training services to international schools to aid in the professional development of DT departments globally.

Accredited health and safety training can elevate teaching and learning in your DT department. With many safety and professional development benefits, now is the time to consider accredited training.