Dorset Action on Safety & Health – DASH
Dorset Action on Safety & Health (DASH) was formed in 2006 and is primarily a partnership of local authority and private sector organisations involved with waste collection activities across Dorset and some neighbouring areas.Individual organisations were providing their own training programmes for waste collection operatives in the county. To standardise the level of competence and approach, DASH has developed one highly tailored training course that all partners now use in their employee induction process.
The course content has a practical focus and covers tasks such as identifying the hazards of waste collection work, reversing assistant and manual handling awareness, as well as a section on legal requirements. The course materials link to a national educational framework so those who have completed the course receive a recognised certificate of competence.
Both WAMITAB and the HSE supported members of group in the development of the training initiative. WAMITAB explored the educational frameworks in which the course would sit, whilst technical input was secured via HSE to enable production of a DVD, which reinforces the course content and shows the day-to-day hazards faced in the working environment of a refuse collection operative.
A core of council staff from strategically placed local authorities delivers the training. These carefully selected staff were up-skilled to ensure that they have the necessary skills to effectively teach the course material.
Once trained, employees are given a card which provides evidence to avoid them having to repeat the training if moving to another partnering organisation.
This course has been embedded within the local authorities as part of their induction training programmes and several private companies within the DASH Partnership also use it. Several partners have noted a marked decline in both accident and sickness levels since introducing the new training course. Dorset Action on Safety & Health (DASH) was formed in 2006 and is primarily a partnership of local authority and private sector organisations involved with waste collection activities across Dorset and some neighbouring areas.
Contact: Paul Hancock paul.hancock@bournemouth.gov.uk