Safety training programs are a necessity in the workplace. There are numerous items that the safety professional can implement in order to make their workplace safety training program the most effective. Variety is the key component when it comes to doing this. Here are six of the most important program components.
Written Safety Plan
Some programs require written safety plans while others don’t. Two examples of plans that are required in all workplaces are Hazard Communication and Exposure Control. Both of these safety plans are mandated to be in written form by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States. It’s always a good idea to have these written plans in a location where they are easily and readily accessible to all employees and any possible safety inspectors that may come into your workplace.
Some workplaces do put all of their safety plans in writing even though it is not required to do so. For example, a workplace has evaluated noise levels and has made the determination that the levels do not exceed acceptable or dangerous levels. However, the company still implements a written safety program for procedures relating to hearing protection. I feel it is in the best interest of employer and employees to have each and every plan clearly in a written format for public view.
Reference Material
Safety programs are most effective when they are created by following reference material from laws, codes and standards. The reference material should be easily accessible and also available to employees. The safety professional needs to be able to exhibit knowledge of laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the safety of the workplace for which they are responsible for. Keeping these standards readily available creates a win win situation.
Compliance Kits
Safety programs often consist of many areas of compliance. In addition to written plans and knowledge of regulations, an effective program includes compliance kits. An example of a kit is that of an Exposure Control Plan and kit. The Exposure Control Plan consists of a written safety plan, training of employees and safety equipment such as CPR masks, scissors, a razor, and first aid material. All of these things collectively make up a kit. Many companies purchase pre-made kits that contain physical items like these.
Training Aids
As you can see, a lot of foundation work goes into an effective safety program prior to the actual employee training. When it is time to actually train the employees, using a variety of presentation methods will boost the effectiveness of the sessions. There are numerous ways to do this. Most safety presentations are done by using Power point presentations. This is an absolutely fantastic method. A presenter can included all kinds of visuals including pictures, images and video clips. Other ways to present material include, video tapes, CDs, DVDs, or bringing in guest speakers. Whichever method is used, a trainer needs to know that keeping the training to the point, and using a variety of training methods will be most effective.
Training Records Database
Now that the actual training has been completed, a database of these records needs to be kept. This is essential for two reasons. First, an inspector would ask for the proof of training. The second reason is that you need to have an easy way to access your employee training records. Many trainings are required on an annual basis. With an electronic database, it’s easy to search for absent attendees as well as dates of attendance and dates that future trainings may be needed.
Trainer Evaluation
One of the last things that any safety trainer wants is negative feedback. For this reason, this is one of the things most safety programs lack. Trainer evaluations or course end questionnaires can be quite effective in letting the trainer know what people liked about the training and what they felt was most effective. As far as negative feedback, trainers should see this as a positive because they now have the opportunity to improve it. Trainer evaluations also give students the opportunity to be involved in their companies safety programs.
The effectiveness of your safety training programs is determined by these six areas of completion. How effective is your safety program?
Julie Shoemaker - I am a Safety Specialist and certified to teach the OSHA 10 and 30 hour safety training. I've been employed in the safety field for over ...
