Successful Safety Training: Preparation Is the Key

Successful safety training that gives you a good ROI in terms of fewer accidents, better compliance, and lower costs doesn’t just happen. You have to have a plan and then prepare your strategy carefully. Here’s a road map to getting there:

Analyze training needs. Begin by determining where you need to spend your training time and money. Consider:

Job descriptions, which list the skills and information to perform the job safely

OSHA training requirements, which may be specifically stated in regulations or which can be inferred from the rules

State safety and health regulations, which may be stricter than OSHA standards and require additional compliance efforts by management and employees

Goals of your safety programs, which guide your organization toward continuous safety improvement

Injury and illness records contained in your OSHA 300 log, which tell how, when, and where employees are getting hurt

Accident and near-miss reports, which tell you why employees are getting hurt or are at risk of being hurt

Changes in policies, procedures, materials, or equipment, which usually require additional training to bring employees up to speed and prevent accidents

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Decide who needs training. To determine which employees need specific safety training, look at:

OSHA standards and your organization’s safety policies, both of which often identify employees who must be trained

Training records, which will tell you who needs refresher training and when

Employee records, which show who has been involved in accidents or violated safety rules

Performance data, which will help identify weaknesses in employees’ performance that may require training to correct

One top source of information about who needs training might be right before your eyes. Simply observe employees to see if they use proper safety precautions, wear appropriate PPE, and obey warning signs. Talk to employees, too, to find areas in which workers feel well equipped for their jobs and areas in which they’re unsure about hazards, precautions, or safety rules. Safety meetings are also a good source of information about which employees might need additional training and which areas might be involved. Some organizations use questionnaires to poll employees about safety training needs. Other organizations use focus groups—small groups of employees openly expressing their concerns to an impartial moderator—to find out about safety training needs.

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Draw up a detailed plan. The final step in preparing for successful training is to draw up a plan of action.

Set specific goals to meet each training need you’ve identified.

List all employees who need to be trained in each topic area.

Set up a training schedule.

Choose trainers and appropriate training methods.

Prepare training materials.

Include an evaluation for each session so that you can objectively measure effectiveness of training.

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Why It Matters…

Effective, well-targeted safety training provided at the right time:

Prevents accidents and injuries

Helps ensure regulatory compliance

Reduces operating costs

Provides a good ROI on training dollars

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