Safety Training for Safety Professionals - Part 3 of 4

The law says we have to train. How do we get the job done? A straight forward four point plan will help us accomplish whatever training we have to do. We’ll use four words: WHY - WHAT - WHO – HOW. Here are some key concepts to assist you as trainers in answering the WHY, WHAT, WHO, HOW questions:

WHY...What is the current need? This can mean the highest number of worker compensation claims, an area of compliance where you’re lacking, the requirements of a new customer...it can mean anything. BUT the why question must have some answer...if it doesn’t, STOP, don’t go any further, you have a reason to. Because if you can’t answer why for you as the trainer, how can you expect the employees to understand why you’re bothering to stand up in front of them and talk.

Here are some good answers to the WHY QUESTION...Regulatory Compliance (you don’t have a choice, it’s the law), Behavior Modification (people aren’t doing the right thing, please change your behavior), New Jobs for employees not skilled in this area, Different approaches for Jobs we’re used to doing “as we always did”, Politics (don’t sell this short, politics is how we get work and keep it).

WHAT...Answers to the WHAT QUESTION are the very specific topics to be addressed... Machine Guarding, Confined Space, Fall Protection, Lock Out / Tag Out, OSHA 10 Hour Training, etc.

WHO...Answers to the WHO QUESTION focus on the workforce AND the nature of their work...Office/Management, Shop, Production, Custom, Service, Field, etc.

EVIDENTIARY DOCUMENTS & CORPORATE COMMUNICATION? (See: Part 4)