FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Lead Safety Advisor

Regional or Championship

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Summary

• Responsibilities & Expectations• Schedule• At the Event• Critical Review• What’s Next?

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Responsibilities & Expectations

• Safety “FIRST”– Safe Behaviors– Physical Conditions– PPE

• Principles Over Policy– Hazard-Based Safety Principles

• Leading and Mentoring– Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

• When in Doubt, You Are The LEADER

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Positive Reinforcement

– Rewards• Physical Display

– Recognition• Communication and “Small Tokens”

– Positive Encouragement– Negative Reaction

• Use Sparingly• Can be effective in EXTREME situations

– “Stand-Down”

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Hazard-Based Safety Principles (HBSP)

• IDENTIFY• ELIMINATE• MIDIGATE

– Guard– Contain– Warn

• REVIEW– Lessons Learned Apply Beyond This Instance– Take-Home = Principles not Rules

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

HBSP - Example

• IDENTIFY– Mechanical Hazard – Cutting Chain

• May also be other hazards– Electrical, Hearing (dbA)

• ELIMINATE– Can We Eliminate the Hazard Completely?

• MIDIGATE– Guard

• Provided for kickback and exposure

– Contain• Movable / Transportable – Difficult to accomplish

– Warn• Label and Instruction Manual

• REVIEW• Experience using the product

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

HBSP - Markings

• Warn the User– “Danger”

• Identify the Hazard– “Risk Of Electric Shock”

• Action to Take / Avoid– “Do not use this product.”

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Schedule

• Wednesday Evening– Facility / Setup Run-Through– Meet Contacts

• Thursday and Friday– Main Team Involvement

• Saturday– “Playoffs”

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

At the Event

• Have Fun!!!• Keep Organized

– Be Aware of Key Personnel• Paramedic Station• Lead Queuer• Pit Admin and Announcer• Event Coordinator• Facilities Personnel * if applicable

– Know Where Materials Are Located• PPE – Safety Glasses• Awards• Safety Tokens

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

At the Event

• Understand Safety Principles– Be Familiar with Safety Manual– Understand / Communicate Hazard-Based Safety

Principles

• Be Familiar with Rewards and Ranking System• Be Aware of Pitfalls and Patterns

– Safety Glasses– Visitors (Esp. Moms and Dads)– Organization– Transport– Stable Work Surface

• Be Available / Visible

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Safety Advisory Process

• Provide Positive Verbal Feedback– Encourage Safe Behavior

• Distribute Safety Credits / Tokens• Walkthroughs • Designate the “Star of the Day”• Less Scoring, More Communication

– Want to Identify the Top Team vs. Highest Score– Use the Score Sheet as a Guide– Do NOT communicate scores to teams

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

• Industrial Safety Award– “Progresses Beyond Safety Fundamentals”– One Team– Scored By LSA and Safety Advisors– Awarded on Saturday

• Top 3 Safe Teams– 3 Teams with Most Tokens (Aside from UL IS Award)– Tabulated Saturday AM, Presented PM

• Star of the Day– OneOne Individual– Chosen By LSA and Safety Advisors– Given on Thursday and Friday Only (One Student Each

Day)

Awards

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Judging

• 3 Primary Areas– Safe Behaviors– Physical Conditions– PPE

• Score on Patterns– Each SA Scores 2x / day / team– Accumulate Scoring at End of Day

• LSA Compiles• Do NOT Communicate Scoring to Students

• Use the “Professor Principles”– Equate Scoring with College Grades– Additional Guidance in Advisor Guide

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Gracious Professionalism is Key

• At FIRST, Gracious Professionalism has become an expectation.

• We expect it from our students, from the Mentors and Coaches, from all FIRST Volunteers and from FIRST Staff.

• It is part of the ethos of FIRST.

“In the long run, gracious professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. If one becomes a professional, and uses knowledge in a gracious manner, everyone wins. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you have acted with integrity and sensitivity. That’s good stuff!”

– Dr.Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Gracious Professionalism is Key

Encouraging high-quality work +

Emphasizing the value of others +

Respecting individuals and the community

EVERYONE WINS!

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Lead Volunteer Communication

With your team of volunteers:– As a Lead Volunteer you are a LEADER.– Lead Volunteers must communicate with the Volunteer

Coordinator(s) to get names and begin communicating with their team as soon as possible via e mail etc.

– As a team leader, you must communicate with your volunteers to create a sense of a team and teamwork.

– By doing so, questions can be answered in advance, comfort levels increased, and miscellaneous information gotten out of the way.

– There should be no surprises when you get together with your volunteer team at the event.

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Lead Volunteer Communication

With the other lead volunteers at your event:– Take the opportunity to meet with other lead

volunteers and discuss your expectations.– Discuss overlapping areas of responsibility and

decide on how issues in these areas should be handled.

– Clarify each others roles BEFORE a problem arises.

– Make sure everyone understands the non-medical incident report (new in 2008).

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Critical Review

• Gracious Professionalism• Respect• Communication• Participate

– Provide Feedback / Assistance Beyond Safety

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

Conclusion – The “Papa Bees”

• Be Prepared• Be Aware• Be Positive• Be

Approachable

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

What’s Next?

• Review the Safety Manual– Distributed to Each Team

• Review the Safety Advisor Guide– Specific Details on LSA / SA Duties

• Review the Website for your Event• Submit Feedback Form Immediately After Event

-By Monday to Jeffrey.Wickman@us.ul.com or 847-513-7611 (fax)

Test your knowledge!

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

What’s Next?

• Now that you have reviewed the key materials to succeed in your position be sure to:– Test your knowledge with our online quiz.– Plan to participate in your pre- and post-event

training calls. These calls help volunteers at all regional events be successful!

FIRST Training Resource – Volunteers

FIRST would like to thank the Association for Laboratory

Automation for their gracious support.