Training matrix

If your safe systems of work identify that safety training should be completed, e.g. manual handling or the safe use of machinery, it’s vital that you keep on top of who has done what and when. Our training matrix will help you to do this.

Are staff trained and competent?

In many business sectors, but especially high risk ones such as manufacturing and construction, staff will need to attend training courses, obtain formal qualifications, and hold specific competency cards. Collectively, these are a way of ensuring that they are made aware of the safe systems of work they should be following.

Simple tool

To make the process easier to manage, we’ve produced a Training Matrix. The idea behind the tool is to enable you to be able to scan across all of your employees training history/needs on a single sheet, rather than having to hunt through personnel files or check certificates.

The Microsoft Excel based database will help you to identify:

• what training any member of staff has/hasn’t had
• the level/grade of the training
• when refresher training may be required
• who has the appropriate training/qualifications to complete specific jobs, i.e. operate a fork lift truck or a specific machine.

How is the document set out?

The first four columns ask you to provide “Employee details”. These include: “Employee name”; “Role” “Start date”; and “Manager”.

Tip. To make it easier to search, we suggest that you list your employees’ names in alphabetical order.

What training

In the next set of columns you’re asked to provide details of the training. In each one, you should record whether they’ve been trained in the “Y/N” column. You’re also asked to identify the “Category” and the “Expiry”, if there is one. 

The category is important for competency cards, such as CSCS ones. You can identify whether your staff have specific trade cards, visitor, supervisor versions etc.

Carry on across the page

We’ve included some sample training courses/qualifications; however, you should feel free to change these to those that suit your business. In these columns you can cover specific machines, risk assessments, manual handling, first aid etc.