5 Ways to improve your safety training

There’s no question effective training saves lives, and inadequate training can cost lives. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the implementation of injury and illness prevention programs can minimize injuries by 15% to 35% for employers that lack safety and health programs. Hence, supervisors entrusted with the responsibility of training employees should have the necessary knowledge required to do so. It’s the safety manager’s duty to guarantee that individuals have the necessary knowledge to carry out their jobs safely and efficiently.

To enhance your training strategies without incurring substantial expenses, consider these five simple approaches.

Use a blended learning approach

People have unique learning preferences. Some individuals grasp information more effectively through visual cues, while others require repeated auditory exposure to absorb knowledge. On the other hand, some individuals thrive when immersed in real-life experiences under supervision. Blended learning, or combining multiple delivery methods, ensures all employees can access training content in a way that resonates with them.

To optimize training outcomes, your program should incorporate a mix of self-paced tutorials and opportunities for classroom or on-the-job interaction. Computer-based training offers notable advantages in terms of saving time and costs. By integrating text, graphics, sound, and video animation, it can significantly enhance information retention. Nonetheless, computer-based training does have its limitations, so it’s most effective when complemented with hands-on learning experiences.

In essence, the success of training lies in its ability to present information through diverse formats that closely resemble the tasks employees will undertake. Take the time to evaluate your training programs and ensure they accommodate the varied learning styles of your workforce.

Clearly state objectives

Employers often overlook this simple yet crucial step. While the purpose of confined spaces training may appear evident, the training objectives should be explicitly defined. To ensure employee safety in confined spaces, an effective training program should equip them with the ability to:

• Comprehend the criteria for determining a confined space and differentiate between those that require a permit and those that don’t.
• Recognize and address the hazards commonly encountered in confined spaces.
• Understand the appropriate actions to take in the event of a confined space emergency.

Considering that the OSHA confined spaces training course lasts 2 hours, there’s a significant amount of information to be absorbed. By providing clear guidance on the specific knowledge employees are expected to possess, they’ll be able to direct their attention accordingly.

Evaluate learning

It’s important not to assume that employees have fully grasped the material simply because it was presented effectively. Checking their understanding at various points during the training is essential, whether through ongoing questioning or by administering short quizzes after each section. Computer-based training modules often include built-in quiz functionalities, but these can also be easily incorporated into presentations.

These assessment activities can be conducted during a classroom session or integrated into a computer-based training module. By using an integrated safety database, you have the flexibility to create customized safety training modules, upload existing training content, or provide links to relevant materials. This database allows you to define the training objectives, incorporate quizzes, and maintain comprehensive records of all employees who successfully complete the training.

Offer resources employees can easily access after training

To combat the ease with which information can be forgotten, it’s crucial to reinforce it with written materials. While handouts can be useful, they often end up discarded or lost among a pile of papers. By transitioning your training manuals to an online database, employees can easily access the information whenever they need it. This database allows you to upload and modify existing manuals, as well as create new ones.

When presenting information, it’s important to ensure it’s in a format that’s easy to comprehend. Using bullet points and incorporating supporting illustrations wherever possible enhance readability and comprehension. By presenting information in a user-friendly format, employees are more likely to engage with the material and better retain the content presented.

Make training an ongoing process

Training, akin to the process of learning, is a continuous and lifelong journey. Even seasoned employees with years of experience can be susceptible to errors if they become too complacent with their tasks. It’s crucial to recognize that no job should be considered routine. Involving long-term employees in the training process can help maintain their skills at a high level. To ensure ongoing performance, your company should regularly conduct safety audits to monitor employees in their roles and provide coaching as necessary.

By integrating safety audits into a safety database, these assessments can be scheduled at regular intervals. Reminders can be automatically generated and sent to the designated individuals responsible for conducting the audits.