Every year across the UK, thousands of avoidable workplace accidents occur. Many of them happen in residential buildings – in communal areas, and maintenance spaces.
In property management, where multiple people interact with shared spaces every day, the risk of harm increases when those responsible for safety are unaware of hazards or unsure of how to control them. Health and Safety Awareness Training plays a vital role in changing that.
Suitable training is a regulatory requirement that ensures everyone from directors and property managers, to caretakers and contractors understand their responsibilities, recognise risks, and know how to prevent harm.
The Legal Framework
Health and safety training is not optional, it’s a clear, legal requirement under several pieces of UK legislation.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must provide “such information, instruction, training, and supervision as is necessary” to protect employees so far as reasonably practicable (Section 2). Section 7 also places duties on employees to cooperate with that training and to work safely.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 reinforce this, stating that training must be provided when individuals start work, face new or increased risks, or when skills need updating.
Many other regulations (such as those covering asbestos, first aid, and fire safety) include specific training requirements. But general health and safety awareness training remains the essential starting point for building a strong safety culture.
Who Needs Awareness Training?
The short answer: anyone who has a hand in keeping a property safe.
- Senior leaders and directorsneed to understand their legal duties as duty holders, and how health and safety integrates with broader governance.
- Property managers and managing agents must be able to identify risks, apply appropriate procedures, and monitor compliance across sites.
- Site-based staff (including caretakers, cleaners, contractors, and maintenance teams) require practical training in the hazards they face daily – from slips and trips to hazardous materials and manual handling.
Certain groups require special attention:
- New recruits should always receive health and safety induction training.
- Young, or inexperienced staff may be more vulnerable to accidents and need more thorough or frequent training.
- Staff who are changing roles or taking on new responsibilities should be trained in the risks associated with their new duties.
What Good Awareness Training Looks Like
Effective training should be accessible, practical, and relevant to the person receiving it. That means using plain, jargon-free language to make the content understandable for everyone.
It also means tailoring the training to the setting. For example, office-based staff may benefit from classroom-style sessions, while caretakers and maintenance staff may need on-site, hands-on instruction relevant to the specific risks they face.
A robust awareness training programme should cover:
- Legal roles and responsibilities under UK law
- Safe systems of work and emergency procedures
- How to identify hazards and assess risk
- Property-specific risks, such as fire safety measures, contractor management, or asbestos awareness
It should also explain the organisation’s health and safety policies and what’s expected from each employee in day-to-day operations.
Certification and Competence
Most awareness training concludes with a certificate – useful for audit trails and for demonstrating that training has taken place.
However, as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) notes, holding a certificate does not automatically make someone competent. Competence comes from a combination of:
- Formal training
- Supervised on-the-job learning
- Practical experience
- Ongoing evaluation and feedback
Employers must go beyond one-off training sessions and monitor whether staff are putting their knowledge into practice, helping to embed safe behaviours across the organisation.
Ongoing Responsibilities
Health and safety training is a continual process, not a one-time event. Refresher training should be provided whenever procedures are updated, new equipment or materials are introduced, or is a staff member returns from a long absence. Training should also be revisited after any incidents or near-misses that suggest a knowledge gap.
Employers should develop a structured training plan that:
- Assesses needs by role
- Provides induction, role-specific, and refresher training
- Keeps a record of what’s been delivered and when
Employees, for their part, must engage with the training, apply it in their roles, and report any concerns or gaps in understanding.
The Human Impact: Why Awareness Training Matters
Beyond legal compliance and procedural checklists, health and safety training protects people. A caretaker trained in safe lifting techniques avoids a back injury. A maintenance operative who understands asbestos risks avoids dangerous exposure. A manager with fire safety awareness can prevent a serious incident from escalating.
Good training also builds confidence. Staff feel more supported, better equipped to do their jobs safely, and more likely to report issues early.
Residents benefit too – knowing that those responsible for their building take safety seriously fosters trust and peace of mind.
Embedding Safety Through Knowledge
Health and Safety Awareness Training is far more than a regulatory formality. It is a legal duty and a critical part of responsible property management.
By equipping staff at all levels with the knowledge to identify hazards, follow safe procedures, and respond appropriately to risk, property managers can prevent harm, demonstrate compliance, and build safer environments for everyone who lives or works in their buildings.
We deliver tailored awareness training for both office-based and site-based staff, helping you meet your responsibilities under UK health and safety law. Our legislation training is clear, practical, and designed to give your team the tools they need to work safely every day. We’d love to support you in building a confident, competent workforce – one that makes safety a shared responsibility, not just a tick-box exercise.
