Free health and safety training vs paid courses online: what you get

How health and safety training works, free or paid

Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 says it is the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. That includes "the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary".

HSE puts it simply in its guide for employers: "You must give your workers clear instructions and information, as well as adequate training and supervision." It says everyone who works for you "needs to know how to work safely and without risk to their health", and that employers should include people with particular training needs, such as new recruits, people changing jobs or taking on extra responsibilities, young employees and health and safety representatives.

The law does not say training must be a formal course. HSE says: "If you're a low-risk business, providing simple information or instructions is likely to be enough." It adds that you can often do effective training in-house, and that staff need extra training with new equipment or changed working practices. So the free vs paid choice is about how the training is given and what record you get, not about one route being legal and the other not.

Free options for health and safety training online

Your employer. HSE says: "Health and safety training should take place during working hours and must be free for employees." If your job needs health and safety training, your employer should provide and pay for it. That can be in-house training, information and instructions, or an external course.

HSE's free guidance. HSE publishes free guidance online, including:

• Provide information and training, HSE's online guide for employers, with pages on deciding what training you need, workers with particular training needs and supervision.
• INDG345, Health and safety training: A brief guide, a free leaflet for owners and managers of businesses.

These are guidance, not a course, and do not come with a certificate.

Free courses with an optional paid certificate. Alison offers a free Fundamentals of Health and Safety in the Workplace course (1.5 to 3 hours) that includes the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Alison says "All learning on Alison is free" and that you can pay "a nominal fee" for a digital certificate. Its FAQ page does not show the price.

Free and paid health and safety courses compared

Here is what each provider shows on its own course page, checked 26 October 2026, with prices exactly as shown.

"Check provider" means the provider's page did not show that detail when we checked.

So what does paying add?

Free and paid routes can both teach the basics. What paying adds:

• A certificate in your name. The paid courses in our table give you a certificate when you finish, which you can show a new employer or add to your CPD record.
• A set price. In our table, the paid courses cost from £24 + VAT to £30 + VAT.
• A structured course and a test. You cover the core topics in order and finish with a pass mark.
• A refresh date. Several courses say when to refresh.

If your employer already trains you, use that. If you are looking for work, starting a new role, self-employed, or want a certificate of your own, a paid course gives you that.

What you get with Lift College

The Lift College Health and Safety Training gives a practical grounding in health and safety at work. Its 6 modules cover why health and safety matters, duties under the law, hazards and risk assessment, common workplace hazards, hazardous substances (COSHH), and accidents and reporting (RIDDOR).

• £19.99, pay once. One payment for one learner, no subscription.
• 3 hours of learning, counts towards your CPD. Short modules with a knowledge check after each, then a final test with 80% to pass and unlimited free retakes.
• CPD certificate issued by Lift College the same day. It shows 3 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh date, with a unique number and a verification link.
• Free refresher every 3 years. We email you 30 days before.
• 14-day money back. Ask within 14 days of paying for a full refund.

It suits new starters whose induction includes health and safety, people working in offices, shops, warehouses, schools, care settings or on site, and team leaders who need a refresh of the basics. You need to be 16 or over. Training a team? It is £16.99 a course on a free organisation account, and your first place is free.

Need training on a single risk? Lift College has 13 health and safety courses, from fire safety and manual handling to COSHH and working at height, each £19.99, pay once.

Which should you choose?

Take the free route if your employer provides health and safety training, you run a low-risk business and HSE's guidance tells you what you need, or you want to learn the basics before a job search.

Pay for a course if you want a certificate in your own name, your employer has asked you to arrange training yourself, or you want a set course with a test and a refresh date.

Where to go next

• Comparing paid courses? Read our guide to health and safety training online in the UK, or see the best online health and safety courses in the UK.
• Browse all health and safety courses.

Ready to start? Get your health and safety certificate online for £19.99, pay once.