Workplace health and safety is a critical concern across all industries, and access to quality training is essential for both employers and employees. For UK-based professionals, students, and individuals seeking to enhance their safety knowledge or meet compliance requirements, a range of free online courses is available. These programmes, offered by reputable platforms, provide structured learning on key safety topics and often include certificates upon completion. This article details the platforms, course offerings, and certification processes based on available information, focusing on resources that are accessible without cost.
Overview of Free Online Safety Training
The landscape of online safety education has expanded significantly, with platforms now providing free access to courses that were traditionally confined to physical classrooms or paid subscriptions. These resources are particularly valuable for small business owners, job seekers, students, and NGOs operating in the UK and internationally. The courses cover fundamental topics such as occupational health and safety acts, hazard identification, risk assessment, and specific industry practices. Completion often requires passing assessments, and certificates are issued digitally, which can be shared on professional networks like LinkedIn or used for compliance documentation.
Key Platforms and Course Offerings
Alison – Free Health and Safety Courses With Certificates
Alison is described as one of the world's largest free e-learning platforms, offering over 4,000 courses, including a significant number in workplace health and safety. The platform provides certified online safety courses free of charge, accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. Courses are developed in collaboration with industry experts and align with international safety standards.
Popular courses on Alison include: - Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health - Health and Safety in the Food Industry - Construction Site Safety - Fire Safety and Prevention - Infection Prevention and Control
The "Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health" is noted as ideal for both employers and employees, taking approximately 10-15 hours to complete. Completion requires a score of at least 80% in end-of-course assessments. Upon passing, a free digital certificate of completion is awarded. Hard copies and diplomas are available for a fee, which is optional. Certificates are easily shareable on LinkedIn and resumes. The platform is ISO-certified, has over 30 million learners, and its content is compliant, with instructor bios and source references. It is supported by governments and NGOs worldwide. Key features include a mobile-friendly interface, no subscription or hidden fees, courses available in multiple languages, and a mix of video, audio, and text formats. Alison is suitable for job seekers needing proof of safety training, small business owners training staff, NGOs or volunteers in disaster-prone areas, and individuals interested in basic or advanced safety certifications.
FutureLearn – University-Led Free Safety Courses
FutureLearn is a UK-based platform offering MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) created by top universities and institutions. The safety courses here are described as highly educational, research-backed, and meet international occupational health and safety (OHS) standards.
Notable safety courses include: - Understanding Public Health Risks - Psychological First Aid (by Public Health England) - Managing Health and Safety in Healthcare - Emergency Planning and Response - Construction Safety Essentials (by the University of Coventry)
Many of these courses are created by renowned bodies such as the University of Reading, British Safety Council, Open University, and St. John Ambulance. FutureLearn has partnerships with over 200 global institutions, including WHO, UNESCO, and Microsoft. The platform offers academic-grade safety training for free, making it a valuable resource for those seeking reputable, institution-led education.
OSHA Education Center (Outreach Online Training Partners)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), under the U.S. Department of Labor, is a global authority on workplace safety standards. While OSHA doesn’t directly offer all its courses for free, there are several OSHA-authorized training partners and third-party sites that provide free introductory OSHA courses online.
What you can learn on these platforms includes: - Introduction to OSHA regulations - Hazard Communication (HazCom) - Electrical Safety - Fall Protection - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Emergency Action Plans
These courses often come with interactive e-learning content, video lessons, and downloadable safety materials. Many platforms also issue completion certificates. Where to access: some top third-party platforms include OSHA.com (offering introductory safety awareness courses), 360Training (periodic free safety topics), and the OSHA Education Center (occasionally hosts free webinars and resources). While OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certifications require payment, free short modules are available that prepare learners for those certifications or reinforce existing safety knowledge. The content is government-recognized and trusted by U.S. industries.
SET Safety’s Free Online Safety Course
SET Safety’s free online safety course aims to provide workers with a basic understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Learners are made aware of the health and safety rights and responsibilities of both employers and workers. The course serves as a general introduction to workplace safety, discussing workplace hazards, protective equipment, and devices. Learners also learn how to prevent illnesses and injuries at work and how to stay safe on the job. The course demands a perfect mark of 100% for learners to pass and earn a certificate. If an individual doesn’t make the mark, they can retake the course up to three times.
Additionally, SET Safety offers a course on food safety, teaching the many factors that affect food safety and the food hazards one needs to be aware of. It touches on general safety practices to keep customers safe and helps learners know how to consistently meet food safety standards by determining what to look out for during food prep and the precautions to take.
Coursera – Free Auditing Options for Safety Courses
Coursera offers free auditing options for most programs, meaning you can access all course materials at zero cost (only pay if you need a certificate). Noteworthy free safety courses include: - Safety in the Utility Industry (by Duke University) - Construction Safety and Health (Columbia University) - Psychological Safety: Leading High-Performing Teams (University of North Carolina) - COVID-19 Contact Tracing (Johns Hopkins University) - Workplace Safety and Environmental Health (University of Colorado)
Courses on Coursera are taught by PhD-level experts, researchers, and experienced professionals, making the platform a top source of trustworthy safety information. Key platform highlights include video-based lessons with subtitles in multiple languages, real-world assignments and quizzes, flexible deadlines (perfect for working professionals), and peer-graded projects and instructor feedback. Coursera’s content includes citations, expert instructor profiles, and direct references to safety standards like ISO 45001 and OSHA guidelines. Certification options include auditing for free and upgrading to a shareable certificate. This platform is best for professionals upgrading credentials, corporate training managers, international students needing accredited training, and government employees and NGO workers.
Choosing the Right Safety Course Platform
While each platform discussed has unique strengths, key factors to consider when choosing a safety course include: - Content Relevance: Ensure the course covers topics pertinent to your industry or role (e.g., construction, healthcare, food safety). - Certification Needs: Determine if a free digital certificate is sufficient or if a paid hard copy or diploma is required for your purposes. - Time Commitment: Courses vary in length, from short modules to multi-hour diplomas; choose one that fits your schedule. - Platform Accessibility: Check for mobile-friendly interfaces, language options, and no hidden fees. - Credibility: Prioritise platforms with partnerships with recognised institutions, government bodies, or ISO certification.
For UK consumers, FutureLearn’s UK-based, university-led courses may offer particularly relevant content aligned with local standards, while Alison provides a broad international perspective. OSHA courses are valuable for those working with U.S. standards or in multinational environments.
Conclusion
Free online health and safety courses with certificates are widely available through reputable platforms like Alison, FutureLearn, OSHA Education Center partners, SET Safety, and Coursera. These resources offer accessible, high-quality training on essential safety topics, from general workplace safety to industry-specific practices. By completing assessments, learners can earn digital certificates that enhance their professional credentials and support compliance efforts. When selecting a course, individuals should consider the platform’s credibility, course content, and certification options to ensure it meets their specific needs. For UK-based learners, these platforms provide a valuable opportunity to gain recognised safety knowledge without financial investment.