The Briefing Room

Clear answers on workplace compliance.

Guidance from the learndirect compliance team on H&S law changes, HR rulings, fire safety, and food-hygiene regulation. Written for the people who own the audit.

Latest articles

Is Fire Safety Awareness Training Required for All UK Employees?
Compliance

Is Fire Safety Awareness Training Required for All UK Employees?

Article 21 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires every UK employer to give every employee adequate fire safety training at first employment, whenever risks change, and periodically thereafter, during working hours. Enforcement is by fire and rescue authorities and the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and two years' imprisonment. This guide explains exactly what the law requires and how a 60-minute CPD and Fire Brigade accredited course from learndirect satisfies it.

11 min read
Is Abrasive Wheels Training a Legal Requirement in the UK?
Compliance

Is Abrasive Wheels Training a Legal Requirement in the UK?

Every operator, mounter and supervisor of a grinding or cutting wheel needs Regulation 9 adequate training under PUWER 1998. This guide explains exactly what HSE HSG17 requires, when refresher training is needed, and how the learndirect CPD-accredited course covers it in around 45 minutes.

8 min read
Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2 UK: The Legal Standard for Food Handlers
Health & Safety

Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2 UK: The Legal Standard for Food Handlers

Level 2 food hygiene is the working standard for anyone handling open food. What UK law actually requires, the 14 allergens, temperature rules, refresh cycle, and enforcement.

7 min read
Is risk assessment training a legal requirement in the UK?
Health & Safety

Is risk assessment training a legal requirement in the UK?

Risk assessment training is a legal requirement for anyone appointed to identify hazards and put controls in place at work. Here is what the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 actually require, what 'suitable and sufficient' means, and how the hierarchy of controls works in practice.

9 min read
Is DSE training a legal requirement in the UK?
Health & Safety

Is DSE training a legal requirement in the UK?

DSE training is a legal requirement in the UK for any employee who uses a display screen daily for continuous periods of an hour or more. Here is what the 1992 Regulations require, who counts as a user, and what a competent course covers.

8 min read
Is legionella training a legal requirement in the UK?
Health & Safety

Is legionella training a legal requirement in the UK?

Legionella training is a legal requirement for anyone managing hot and cold water systems in a non-domestic building. Here is what the law demands, who must be trained, and what a competent course covers.

8 min read
Is infection control training a legal requirement in the UK?
Health & Safety

Is infection control training a legal requirement in the UK?

Infection control training is a legal expectation across UK health and social care and a strong regulatory duty in food, cleaning and childcare. Here is what the law requires, who must be trained, and what a competent course covers.

7 min read
COSHH training: what UK employers must actually train, refresh and record
Health & Safety

COSHH training: what UK employers must actually train, refresh and record

COSHH remains one of the biggest causes of work-related ill health in Great Britain. Around 13,000 deaths a year are linked to past workplace exposure to chemicals and dust, on top of 22,000 new breathing or lung cases and 16,000 skin cases each year. Here is what the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 actually require, and where the learndirect online course fits.

10 min read
Asbestos awareness: what UK employers must actually train, refresh and record
Health & Safety

Asbestos awareness: what UK employers must actually train, refresh and record

Asbestos is still the single largest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain, killing over 5,000 people every year from exposure decades ago. Around 300,000 non-domestic buildings still contain it. Here is what HSE and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 actually require, and where the learndirect online course fits.

10 min read
Working at height: what UK employers must actually plan and provide
Health & Safety

Working at height: what UK employers must actually plan and provide

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to any work where a fall could cause injury, not just above 2 metres. Falls from height remain the single largest cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain. Here is what HSE actually requires, how the hierarchy of control works, and where the learndirect online course fits.

9 min read
Care Certificate: what UK care workers and employers need to know
HR & Compliance

Care Certificate: what UK care workers and employers need to know

The Care Certificate is the induction standard for people new to health and adult social care in England. It sets out 16 standards that new care workers need to meet before working without direct supervision. Here is what it covers, who it applies to, and how CQC uses it during inspections.

9 min read
Mental health awareness training: what UK employers and teams need to know
Soft Skills & Wellbeing

Mental health awareness training: what UK employers and teams need to know

Mental health awareness training helps managers and teams recognise the signs, have supportive conversations and signpost to professional help. Here is how it differs from Mental Health First Aid, what UK law expects, and what the course covers.

8 min read
Manual handling and moving and handling training: what UK employers must provide
Health & Safety

Manual handling and moving and handling training: what UK employers must provide

Manual handling training - also called moving and handling training in care and healthcare - is a legal requirement under UK health and safety law. Here is what MHOR 1992 demands, the HSE guideline weights, patient handling essentials, and how to prove compliance.

11 min read
What is GDPR training and why is it mandatory in the UK?
HR & Compliance

What is GDPR training and why is it mandatory in the UK?

GDPR training is a legal requirement for every UK employer that handles personal data. Here is what the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR demand of your staff, and how to prove compliance to the ICO.

7 min read
Do you legally need fire warden training? UK fire warden requirements explained
Fire Safety

Do you legally need fire warden training? UK fire warden requirements explained

Fire warden training is legally required in UK workplaces of five or more staff. Here is what the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 demands, how many wardens you need, and what a competent course covers.

6 min read
HR & Compliance

Welcome to the Briefing Room: your compliance training resource

The learndirect compliance team is opening up the Briefing Room: a practical, plain-English resource on the workplace rules that shape UK businesses. Here is what to expect.

3 min read

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