Provide Safety Education
Of course, it's important to properly train all workers on how to identify and control hazards in the workplace. However, too often "training" takes a back seat to other operational priorities, which is one of the primary reasons the company may have a poor safety record.
There are two basic types of safety education: general instruction and technical training.
- General instruction: This form of education includes new employee orientation, safety meetings, and general information. Emphasis is placed on gaining knowledge. Written tests are adequate for student evaluation.
- Technical training: Technical training involves teaching employees how to do something. Emphasis is placed on practice to gain adequate skills to do the job safely. In addition to written tests, evaluating both knowledge and skills requires student demonstration.
When OSHA shows up at your workplace to conduct routine inspections or accident investigations, what do you think might be the first safety area they look at? If you said, "training," that is correct!
Why would OSHA first look at your safety training program? Because they know it is the program most likely to be inadequate or the root cause for an accident. Make sure your safety training program is formal (in writing) and well-documented. Here is how to document training:
- Attendance rosters: For orientations and classroom instruction of general safety information, an attendance roster will be adequate.
- Certification: For specific technical training, especially when it involves hazardous materials or procedures, ensure the training is documented using a formal certification process. Trainers should certify students have demonstrated adequate knowledge and skills in the learning environment. Next, supervisors should certify their employees have gained adequate knowledge and skills on the job. The certification should be in writing.
For more information on safety training programs take OSHAcademy courses 703 Introduction to OSH Training, 721 Developing OSH Training, and 723 Conducting OSH Training.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-4. Which of the methods below is adequate for technical safety training of hazardous procedures?
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