Introduction
A safety training program helps teach people how to identify and reduce risks in the workplace, and is an important part of any organization, especially those in high-hazard industries (such as Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Chemicals). These industries contain a higher risk of injuries and must be addressed in accordance with the standards set by governing regulatory bodies.
There are many benefits to implementing a Safety Training Program in your workplace, including:
â—Ź Helping Ensure Compliance
â—Ź Preventing Injuries
â—Ź Improving Workplace Safety Culture
â—Ź Lower Employee Turnover
By equipping employees with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to hazards in the workplace, daily operations can be made safer, which in turn improves workplace positivity and productivity.
Assess Workplace Hazards and Training Needs
You can’t develop a safety training program without knowing what issues you’re looking to tackle. That’s why the first step is to conduct a hazard assessment to identify and understand the risks present in the workplace. This involves reviewing the physical environment, machinery, equipment, and work processes present in your work environment. Additionally, reviewing past incidents and near-misses can help you understand where failures have occurred in the past. These records can highlight recurring issues that may need focused training. When reviewing these records, be sure to ask yourself:
â—Ź What types of incidents have occurred most frequently?
â—Ź Why did these incidents occur? Why have they occurred repeatedly?
â—Ź When incidents occurred, were safety protocols followed? If not, why not?
These questions can bring major issues to your attention and help you ensure your safety training program is adequately tailored to address them.
Equally important is interviewing employees and managers. Feedback from these sources is vital, as workers on the frontlines and managers overseeing daily operations are often best equipped to identify potential dangers and aid in creating a program designed to mitigate or eliminate incidents.
Workplace safety is governed by regulations from agencies like OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), as well as state-specific and industry-specific standards. It’s important to understand which regulations apply to your specific industry and business operations in order to create a program that addresses the regulations that apply to your business.
Set Clear Objectives and Responsibilities
Training should focus on specific outcomes, such as reducing incidents in the workplace or ensuring compliance. One safety training program cannot be a catch-all designed to fix every single problem an organization may be facing. It is far better to focus on one specific issue (usually the most critical) in your workplace, and tailor your safety program to solve or prevent that issue. This allows for a deeper understanding and better retention of the safety practices related to the most prevalent risks your team is or will be dealing with during their daily operations.
Safety is a shared responsibility. Workers should be involved in the program by reporting hazards and following procedures, while management should lead by example and provide the necessary resources for training.
Choose the Right Training Methods
Human beings are unique, special individuals that each learn differently. Because of this, it is imperative that your safety training program be developed with this fact in mind. It may be necessary when developing a safety training program to implement various training methods to accommodate different learning styles. Some common training methods include:
â—Ź Instructor-led training: Traditional classroom-style sessions with a trainer explaining safety procedures.
â—Ź Online courses: Convenient and flexible, allowing employees to complete training at their own pace.
â—Ź Hands-on demonstrations: Practical training that teaches employees how to handle equipment or respond to emergencies.
â—Ź Toolbox talks: Short, focused discussions on specific safety topics, often held before a shift.
The most important element when considering your training, is to never lose the human connection with those you need to train.
Develop Engaging and Effective Content
Safety training should be interactive and visually appealing. Incorporating videos, images, and real-life scenarios makes the information easier to understand and remember. Hands-on activities and group discussions also help reinforce learning. Always keep in mind that the training you develop is being given to real people and should reflect this.
It’s important to ensure that all training materials are accessible to employees, including those with disabilities or language barriers. It may be necessary to provide translated materials or closed captions on videos to ensure everyone understands the material and can put what they learn into practice during their daily operations. After all, if employees walk away from training and go back to doing exactly what they were doing before, then what was the point?
Implement Training and Ensure Compliance
Now that your safety training program has been developed, it’s time to schedule regular training sessions for new hires and existing employees. This will help ensure that every employee receives the necessary, and same, training, whether they’re just starting work or are an industry veteran in need of a refresher. It’s important to document these training sessions to keep track of who has received training and how long it’s been since they received it. Many regulatory bodies, such as OSHA, recommend or require that employees retake training at least annually, but this can change depending on industry and job duties. Some standards, such as those regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are very explicit on frequency, stating:
“Previous training not repeated initially by the employer must be provided no later than 12 months from the date of the previous training.”
This is not only to ensure safety standards are always fresh in the minds of workers, but also because safety protocols and compliance standards can evolve over time. It is absolutely necessary for the success of any business that everyone is informed of the most current regulations in place.
A great way to track employee progress is through the use of Learning Management Systems (LMS). These are platforms that help users create, manage, and access learning content. They allow you to easily keep up-to-date records on training sessions attended by users, scores on any assessments, and any certifications earned.
Evaluate and Improve the Program
To maintain compliance, it’s important to regularly review your safety training program to ensure the training content aligns with any updates to industry regulations or changes in your workplace. One way to evaluate your safety training program is by gathering feedback from employees and managers. They are the ones directly involved in applying safety protocols and are in the best position to tell you what works and what doesn’t. Regularly ask employees for input on the training process, content, and overall experience. You can do this through surveys, one-on-one interviews, or informal discussions.
After training has been completed, it’s important to test its effectiveness using quizzes or exams to see how well employees have retained the information. This can help you identify areas where employees might need more practice or guidance. You can also use performance reviews to observe how employees apply what they’ve learned to their daily tasks. Are they following safety procedures correctly? Are workplace incidents or near-misses decreasing? If there is still a high rate of safety incidents after implementing training, it may be an indicator that your safety training program needs to be revised.
Keep in mind that the purpose of evaluating your safety training program is not only to solve problems happening now, but also to prevent future problems from occurring. Safety training programs require constant revision and improvement to ensure they are properly preparing employees for the job.
Remember: Safety training programs are not just about ensuring compliance. They give employees the knowledge they need to prevent injuries and stay safe in the workplace.
