Health and safety training is an important part of creating a safe and responsible workplace. It helps employees understand risks, follow safe procedures and respond appropriately when something goes wrong.
One of the most common questions we get asked is how long does a health and safety course take? The answer depends on the type of course, the level of training required and the responsibilities of the person attending. Some basic awareness courses may only take a few hours, while more detailed workplace training can take one or more days. The important point is that the course should be suitable for the role, the workplace and the risks involved.
Why the length of a health and safety course can vary
Health and safety is a broad subject. A short awareness course for general employees will not cover the same depth of information as training for supervisors, managers or people with specific safety responsibilities.
Course length may depend on:
- The level of the course
- The subject being covered
- Whether the course is online, classroom-based or blended
- The experience of the learner
- The risks within the workplace
- Whether assessment or certification is included
- Whether the course is for employees, supervisors or managers
For example, a general health and safety awareness course may be completed in a shorter time, while a more detailed course for people responsible for managing safety may require more time.
Short health and safety awareness courses
Some health and safety courses are designed to give employees a general understanding of workplace safety and can be designed to meet your needs. These courses may cover topics such as:
- Common workplace hazards
- Basic risk awareness
- Employee responsibilities
- Safe working practices
- Accident reporting
- Manual handling awareness
- Fire safety awareness
- Workplace welfare
A short awareness course may take a few hours, depending on the course content and can be useful for new starters, general staff, volunteers or employees who need a basic introduction to health and safety in the workplace.
Half-day health and safety courses
Some courses are delivered over half a day. These are often more focused than a short awareness session and may cover a specific subject or workplace risk. A half-day course may be suitable for topics such as:
- Health and safety awareness
- Manual handling awareness
- Fire safety awareness
- Risk assessment awareness
- Workplace safety refresher training
- Basic COSHH awareness
Half-day training can work well where employees need practical, focused information without taking a full day away from work.
One-day health and safety courses
Many workplace health and safety courses are delivered over one day. This gives learners more time to understand key responsibilities, ask questions and apply the information to real workplace situations.A one-day course may be suitable for:
- Employees with more responsibility
- Team leaders or supervisors
- Workplace safety representatives
- Staff working in higher-risk environments
- People who need more than basic awareness training
One-day courses may include practical examples, discussion, group activities or assessment, depending on the course.
Longer health and safety courses
Some health and safety training takes more than one day. This is usually because the course covers more detailed legal responsibilities, risk management, supervision or workplace-specific procedures.Longer courses may be appropriate for:
- Managers
- Supervisors
- Health and safety leads
- People responsible for risk assessments
- Staff in higher-risk industries
- Those who need formal certification
These courses often go into greater detail and may include more structured assessment.
Online, classroom and in-house training
The format of the course can also affect how long it takes. Online courses can sometimes be completed at the learner’s own pace. This may be useful for basic awareness training, especially where staff need flexibility. Classroom-based courses provide structure, direct trainer support and the opportunity to ask questions. This is really helpful when the subject is more complex or when learners need to apply the information to their own workplace (and essential for some courses such as First Aid at Work). In-house training can be especially useful because the course can be delivered to a group of employees from the same organisation. It can also allow examples and discussion to be linked more closely to the workplace.
How do you choose the right course length?
The right course length should be based on what employees need to know and what they are expected to do. Some of the things you need to think about include:
- What risks exist in the workplace
- What tasks employees carry out
- Whether employees are new or experienced
- Whether staff supervise others
- Whether anyone has specific safety responsibilities
- Whether previous training needs refreshing
- Whether there have been accidents, near misses or changes at work
Health and safety training should be suitable and proportionate. A short course may be enough for basic awareness, but more detailed training may be needed where responsibilities or risks are greater.
When should health and safety training be provided?
Health and safety training is particularly important when someone starts a new job or takes on a new role. It may also be needed when there are changes in the workplace.
This could include:
- New equipment
- New procedures
- New materials or substances
- Changes to the working environment
- A change in job role
- A move to a higher-risk task
- An accident or near miss
- A need to refresh existing knowledge
Training should not be seen as a one-off exercise. It should be reviewed and updated when necessary so that employees remain confident and competent.
Is a longer course always better?
Not necessarily. A longer course may provide more detail, but the best course is the one that matches the learner’s role and the needs of the workplace. For some people, a short awareness course might be more than enough. For others, especially managers or those working in higher-risk environments, a more detailed course might be needed.
The aim is not simply to spend more time in training, it’s to make sure the training is relevant, understood and useful in real working situations.
How long are first aid courses?
First aid training is often grouped alongside health and safety training, but course length depends on the level of first aid qualification required.
Choosing the right training for your workplace
When you’re choosing a health and safety course, think about what the training needs to achieve, useful questions you might want to ask yourself include:
- Who needs the training?
- What do they need to be able to do afterwards?
- What risks are present in the workplace?
- Is this awareness training or more detailed training?
- Does the learner need certification?
- Would in-house training be more practical?
- Does the training need to fit around shifts or working patterns?
Health and safety training with STS First Aid
Health and safety courses can vary from short awareness sessions to more detailed one-day or multi-day training. The right length depends on the subject, the level of responsibility and the risks involved.
At STS First Aid, we provide practical first aid and health and safety training for workplaces, schools and organisations. Our courses are designed to help people understand their responsibilities, build confidence and apply what they learn in real situations. If you’re not sure which course is right for your team, we can help you choose suitable training for your workplace or build a training programme that meets your unique needs, call us on 0208 211 2054 to start the conversation.
