Health and Safety
Working Outdoors
Assessment type
Training only (attendance)
Minimum duration
30 Minutes
Course delivery
E-learning
Description
The Working Outdoors eLearning course provides learners with an understanding of the health and safety considerations associated with working outdoors and the precautions that can help reduce the risks presented by changing environmental conditions.
The course explores common outdoor working hazards, including exposure to heat, cold, sunlight and adverse weather, as well as uneven ground, remote working and changing site conditions. Learners will consider practical measures for preparing for outdoor work, protecting their health and safety and recognising when conditions may require work activities to be changed, postponed or stopped.
Who Should Attend?
- Employees who regularly work outdoors.
- Agricultural and rural workers.
- Construction and maintenance personnel.
- Grounds maintenance and landscaping employees.
- Utilities and infrastructure workers.
- Employees undertaking field-based or remote work.
- Managers and supervisors responsible for outdoor workers.
- Anyone requiring an understanding of outdoor working hazards and precautions.
What You Will Learn
- Common hazards associated with working outdoors.
- Understanding how environmental conditions can affect workplace safety.
- Checking expected conditions before outdoor work begins.
- Preparing appropriately for changing weather conditions.
- Recognising risks associated with hot weather.
- Understanding the potential effects of heat stress.
- Recognising signs that heat may be affecting health or performance.
- Maintaining appropriate hydration when working outdoors.
- Understanding the importance of suitable rest breaks.
- Recognising the risks associated with exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation.
- Applying appropriate measures to reduce UV exposure.
- Recognising risks associated with cold weather.
- Understanding the potential effects of prolonged exposure to cold.
- Selecting suitable clothing for outdoor working conditions.
- Recognising the effects of rain, wind and other adverse weather.
- Understanding how high winds can affect outdoor work activities.
- Recognising risks associated with thunderstorms and lightning.
- Understanding how weather can affect ground and surface conditions.
- Recognising slip, trip and fall hazards on uneven, wet, muddy or icy ground.
- Maintaining awareness of changing terrain and surrounding conditions.
- Considering visibility when working in poor weather or low light.
- Understanding the importance of suitable footwear and personal protective equipment.
- Recognising risks associated with insects, plants and other natural hazards.
- Awareness of workplace transport and machinery risks in outdoor environments.
- Considering the additional risks associated with lone or remote working.
- Maintaining suitable communication arrangements when working remotely.
- Understanding emergency arrangements for outdoor work.
- Recognising when environmental conditions make planned work unsafe.
- Knowing when work should be modified, postponed or stopped.
- Reporting changing conditions and outdoor hazards appropriately.
- Following workplace risk assessments and safe systems of work.
- Contributing to safer outdoor working practices.
Course Delivery
This course is delivered as self-directed eLearning through the ELMO learning platform.
Learners can work through the course at their own pace and can move backwards and forwards through the learning content as required. The course does not need to be completed in one sitting, allowing learners to leave and return to their training where necessary.
Interactive activities may be included throughout the course to reinforce key learning points.
Assessment
Knowledge and understanding are checked through online assessment activities. Depending on the course content, these may include multiple-choice questions, matching exercises, drag-and-drop activities and image-based questions.
A minimum score of 70% is required to successfully complete the course.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the course and assessment requirements, learners will receive a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Accredited Certificate of Training.
This is an awareness-based eLearning course and does not replace workplace-specific risk assessments, safe systems of work, appropriate PPE or any practical, task-specific or equipment-specific training required for outdoor work activities.
Course Duration
The course is self-directed and learners can progress through the content at their own pace. Completion time may therefore vary depending on the individual learner.
Share this course:
TweetCourse calendar
Related courses
Health and Safety
PA1: Pesticides Foundation Module |
Health and Safety
Safety Workshop For Organisers |
Health and Safety
Sharps Safety for the Healthcare Industry |
Health and Safety
IOSH Managing Safely |
Health and Safety
HACCP & Food Safety Level 2 |