Having some health and safety training is bound to come in useful in your workplace, and could also be an attraction for potential employers…

Alongside the basic skills of touch-typing and audio-dictation, shorthand and filing (papers, not nails), you can make your CV shine by adding a health and safety course or two. And give yourself a boost in your boss’ eyes.

The Royal Society of Accidents is famous for publishing its yearly list of quirky accidents – pancake flippers burning themselves on Shrove Tuesday etc. – but they also provide accredited courses on safety in the workplace, too. None is more important than Safety and Health Foundations – a one-day starting course detailing the moral, legal and financial arguments for effective management of safety and health.

If you act as a point of contact for your entire office, then you may wish to take on a course aimed at tackling stress - let’s face it, people will take it out on you. According to ROSPA, there are strong economic, legal and humane reasons for learning to manage stress and violence. Not only do negative effects of stress cost the UK an estimated £3.7 billion a year, employers are also legally required to conduct risk assessments for work-related stress.

So convince your boss to fund a health and safety course for you to go on...For more information, visit  www.rospa.com