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638 Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
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Safety Education

Educating employees about exposure to infectious diseases and the IDPR Plan is accomplished using three primary strategies: instruction, training, and evaluation. These strategies ensure employees have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to work safe on the job.

Education includes instruction, training, and evaluation.
  1. Instruction: To gain adequate knowledge, employees must be instructed on OSHA regulations, hazards of exposure, components of the IDPR Plan, and related company safety policies, programs, and procedures.
  2. Training: To gain necessary skills, employees must receive training that includes hands-on demonstration and an opportunity to practice performing procedures and using tools and equipment.
  3. Evaluation: To ensure employees have adequate abilities to perform their jobs, they must be evaluated by a competent person, formally certified to train, and designated as qualified to use PPE, equipment, and perform response procedures.

Employer Responsibilities

Many OSHA regulations require employers to develop and deploy a suitable safety training program. Note: It's important to know that OSHA will ALWAYS inspect the safety training program during an OSHA inspection.

Your employer is required to provide an information and training program for all employees exposed to hazards in the workplace.

Information and training must inform employees of the specific hazards associated with their work environment, protective measures which can be taken, and their rights under the standard.

The employer may be required to distribute and make relevant materials provided by OSHA available to employees.

For more information on OSHA training requirements see OSHA Pub 2254, Training Requirements in OSHA Standards.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-6. Safety education includes which three strategies?