| Planning makes for improved safety training |
Vital, interesting and informative safety training sessions don’t
just happen: the best training sessions are well-prepared, well-organized
and interactive, notes Christine Thomas, director of Safety Management
Services Co, (Rochester, NY).
She advises:
- Identify main points and draw them up
in outline form.
- Make your lesson plan short—10
points maximum. Figure
that people will be attentive for only 10 or 15 minutes.
- Print your notes for readability. Often
people have trouble deciphering their own writing. Make the print
large enough
to read easily.
- Highlight the words and phrases you
want to use so that you
can make your points precisely and unambiguously.
- For each main point, jot down a few
questions that relate the material to the work carried out by
your team members. This
will encourage participation, and help you to be sure participants
understand the message.
- End the meeting on an up-beat note.
Let participants know your expectations that they will continue
to work safely.
Safety training is a high priority, Thomas adds.
Fact is, lack of or inadequate training is one of the ten most frequently
cited safety infractions.
Take these steps and you can face an audit of
your safety training with confidence:
- Ask your associates to evaluate your
safety training. Better you hear their criticism and frank comments
while there is time to make improvements, and before an inspection.
- Document training sessions. Whenever
you spend time talking to workers about safety, write it down,
even if you are just taking a few minutes to go over a specific
problem. Note the names and job functions of your associates who
participate.
- Make your record specific. Use the word
“training” in your files. This will help inspectors
to recognize the session as meeting training requirements.
- See that, over time, you cover everyone. You
may need to conduct a “make-up” session for workers
who are absent for a regular safety meeting.
|
|  
|
