HOW TO CONDUCT

EFFECTIVE

SAFETY TRAINING

Steve Wise July 2010

How to Conduct Effective Safety Training

Conducting Effective Safety Training - is a critical aspect of any Safety Leader.

Such Training must not only pertain to what your People do each day in their workplace - but it must reach out, grab them, and get them involved.

Any form of Safety Training must be conducted with the Goal of having your People obtain “Safety Take-Aways” - something that they can take back to their workplace and benefit from.

This presentation is being offered to give Safety Leaders ideas on how to Conduct Effective Safety Training that will not only benefit their people - but help ensure their Safety in their Workplace.

How to Conduct Effective Safety Training

Get Your People Involved

Workplace Specific Safety Training

Safety Training Styles

Solicit Your People’s Input / Feedback

Teach Safety with a PASSION

Get Your People InvolvedOne of the worst forms of Training in general - is using one-way communication.

How many times have you sat through a classroom session and were lectured to the entire time? Did you take away anything from it?

Safety Training must reach out and involve your audience - It must get their attention.

It must pertain to what they do - and show them why Safety is and should be important to them.

Involving your People in the Safety Training that you are conducting - will not only reach them - but provide them “Safety Takeaways.”

Ways to get Your People InvolvedUse Workplace Pictures - that can be discussed amongst your People - especially pictures of them.

Use your People in Demonstrations - such as how to properly Lift, how to properly setup / clean a Tool, or talk about how to prevent a prior injury that they had.

Worker Presentations - ask one of your most knowledgeable Workers to present a Topic - such as explaining how to perform an Operation.

Include Upper Management - in your Safety Training - their participation in such sends a strong message of Safety Commitment to the Workforce.

Put Your People on the Spot - during your Safety Training, call on them by Name - and ask them to answer a question, make a Safety Recommendation, or talk about a Safety Problem that they may have.

Use Workplace PicturesExamples of Questions that you can ask to involve your People -

What is wrong with this Picture / Position?

What would you recommend to this Worker - to improve his / her position?

What Injuries could be incurred from working in this position?

Have you ever been injured when working in this position?

What actions do you take to prevent getting injured in performing this operation?

When you use Workplace Safety Pictures - you are bringing and applying your Safety Training

to your People’s Workplace.

Use Classroom QuizzesPPE is considered the first line of defense against workplace hazards?

TrueFalse

Most workers suffer Head Injuries –While looking downFrom an operation that their co-worker was performingFrom falling equipment

•When not wearing Head Protection

What operations call for the use of Safety Goggles?Spray Painting

•Grinding OperationsHaving a co-worker working within 5 feet of youWhen working under equipment / Components

What is the Suspension in a Hard Hat for?•Holds the Hard Hat firmly in place

Allows you to turn your Hard Hat backwardsSuspends the Hard Hat from your Head, creating

ventilation and helps the cushioning of impactsServes as a means of hanging it up when not in use

another way to get your

People involved in your Safety Training - is

to conduct an Open

Safety Quiz that pertains

to your workplace

Include Safety Recommendations from Your People

My example was when my prior Plant was incurring a rash of Eye Injuries.

I walked through the Plant and randomly stopped Employees and asked them - “What do you do to prevent Eye Injuries?”

From there, I produced several Safety Training Slides - some with Employee Pictures - that included the statements or recommendations that they made.

Not only is this an effort that can be considered Employee Recognition - but you may hear a recommendation that may be considered a “Best Practice” - that should be adopted by the entire Plant.

Bill Moots - Fab Shop“Safety Glasses are very

important in the Fab Shop - due to flying metal particles that

are produced by various Fabrication Operations.”

Workplace Specific Safety TrainingSimilar to one-way Training - is to conduct Safety Training on a topic that does not pertain to a Workgroup.

Whenever possible - conduct Safety Training that directly applies to what your People do.

There will be times when you have to teach a Safety Topic that may not directly pertain to the bulk of your People - i.e., Forklift Training - only a small percentage of the work population may actually drive Forklifts.

But one way that you can relate such Safety Training to them - is to discuss how they are impacted by such operations - i.e., working near forklifts, employees injured from F/L operations, etc.

Instruct them on how such Safety Training matters to them - and offer them related “Safety Takeaways.”

Workplace Specific Safety TrainingExample - Ergonomics

BACKGROUND:

✦ My prior Plant was starting to incur “Soft Tissue” Injuries from various and common repair operations.

✦ The majority of these Injuries were Muscular-Skeleton related injuries - and resulted from poor Workplace Ergonomics.

✦ Prior to such Safety Training - Ergonomics had not been talked about at my Plant to any significant degree - nor had any Ergonomic training been held.

OBJECTIVE: Introduce Ergonomic Safety Training into the Plant, explain it to the Workforce, and show them how proper Ergonomics is important to their Safety.

Workplace Specific Safety TrainingExample - Ergonomics

ACTIONS TAKEN:

✦ Prior to introducing Ergonomics to my Workforce - I spent time learning how Ergonomics specifically related to my workplace -

✴ I went to our local Medical Clinic who instructed me on how “Soft Tissue” injuries are incurred - then I identified the Ergonomic Hazards of the Plant - and what Ergonomic Actions can be taken to prevent.

✦ In addition, I spent time on the Plant Floor - talking to the Employees who were suspect to such injuries -

✴ asking if they ever incurred such an injury - what they thought the causes were - and what Ergonomic Hazards they face when performing their daily duties.

READY TO TRAIN: Once I had a thorough knowledge of Ergonomics and “Soft Tissue” Injuries - I was ready to roll it out, train my People so that they could apply it to their Workplace, and get them involved in Ergonomics.

Workplace Specific Safety TrainingExample - Ergonomics

Ergonomic Safety Training Classes were then held with all Work Groups that included the discussion of the following Ergonomic items -

Defined - What Ergonomic Type Injuries are and what they are Called (Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders / WMSD’s).

Ergonomic Hazards - Explained that such were common in our workplace (i.e., Static Posture, Repetitive Motion, Force) - and why these types of Ergonomic Hazards lead to WMSD Injuries.

Symptoms - Discussed what the symptoms are of such injuries (i.e., Pain, Joint Stiffness, Swelling) - and that such symptoms should be reported at the onset in order to prevent further injury.

Ergo Injuries - Next we discussed the type of WMSD Injuries that the Plant had recently incurred - including what Body Part was involved and what Plant Operations may have lead to the Injury.

Preventative Actions - Finally, we discussed what actions can be taken by the Worker - to prevent incurring a WMSD Injury including - Working in a comfortable Posture, Keeping Work Area between their Waist and Shoulders, and Don’t hold a Position for too long.

Workplace Specific Safety TrainingExample - Ergonomics

Included in this Ergonomic Safety Training were Safety pictures that related to what they did.

I displayed a picture such as this and asked -

✦ What are the Ergonomic / Safety Hazards displayed in the picture?

✦ What Ergo or Other Injuries could be incurred from this operation?

✦ What actions could a Worker take to prevent incurring either Ergo Injuries - or any other type of Injury when performing this operation.

If such pictures relate to what your People do in their Workplace - you can maximize their impact and effect on them.

Safety Training StylesThe Safety Training Style that you use - should be one that provides the most impact and benefit to your People.

Your Safety Training Style should depend upon your Workplace Environment - i.e., Manufacturing Plant, Warehouse, Office, etc.

Some Safety Trainers may have different and multiple Workplace Environments - therefore it is critical that you adapt your Safety Training Style accordingly which may require the use of different approaches.

Know your Workplace and your Audience - then reach out and grab them - make their Workplace Safety important to them.

Safety Training StylesTwo-Way Training - I am a firm believer in using a Training Style that gets your People involved -

✦ I ask questions from the start - Get People to demonstrate or help present - Split the group and challenge them on their “Safety Know-how” - and make a point to Spotlight their Safety Efforts and Achievements.

Show-And-Tell - Any time that you can use Workplace Tools, Equipment, etc. in your Safety Training - you are able to bring their Workplace to the Safety Classroom.

✦ Example: Fork-Lift Training - I had a F/L placed outside the Classroom, took my People out to it, then went over how to perform a F/L Safety Inspection and its critical points.

Live-and-Learn - Safety Leaders should always make it a point to learn from others - especially from Accidents that relate to what their Workforce does.

✦ Such examples can easily be found for various Safety Topics - Always discuss Accidents that were incurred within the Company, including past and serious Injuries.

Safety Training StylesUse Outside Personnel - that can give your People an outsiders point of view, share their experiences and Safety recommendations, provide you and your people with a more expert opinion on their Safety, and may teach you and your People something new.

✦ Don’t try to do it all / rely on outside help - Use local Suppliers or Medical Personnel that you may work with on a regular basis to assist in your Safety Training.

✦ My Example - for our monthly Fire Extinguisher Training, I arranged for the local Fire Department to come out and conduct “hands on” training with our Supervisors and Safety Reps.

✴ Not only did they provide more expert instruction - they taught us that a Used Fire Extinguisher should be laid on its side - to visibly tell others that it is spent and not to try to use it when fighting a fire.

✴ In addition, we filmed this Training - then were able to share it with the balance of our Work Groups - as well as with our sister Locations at my Company.

Safety Training StylesUse Available Methods and Means - to conduct your Safety Training including - Videos, PowerPoint, Youtube, etc. Make sure that they are up-to-date.

✦ Using current day media can help convey your Safety Message - especially to a younger Workforce.

✦ But if you choose to do, make sure that you or someone at your organization - has the skills and the time to create such Safety Training presentations.

Mix It Up - meaning that the Safety Trainer should use various styles within one Safety Training session.

✦ Mixing up your Safety Training Presentation - keeps your People fresh and attentive.

✦ Example: 2-way communication / discussion, photo analysis, open quiz, Worker demo, Live-and-learn, best practice recommendations.

Safety Training Style - Mix It UpTraining Meeting Agenda - Example

1. FIRE EXTINGUISHER USE - 30 minutes

Fire Extinguisher Use - How Much do you Know? - Quiz

Fire Extinguisher Training - 15:35 minute video

Fire Extinguisher Use - Types / Fire Triangle / “PASS” / ABC Fire Extinguishers @ the Plant / Things to consider when Using Fire Extinguishers / Monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspections

How a Fire Extinguisher Works - demonstration

Fire Extinguishers - Keep them clear - discussion & pictures

1. Used Fire Extinguishers - What good are they? - discussion

Outside Fire Extinguisher Labels

WHAT IS OUR SAFETY TEMPERATURE - 10 minutes

Month Safety Performance

Recent Safety Findings

Safety Statistics

What is Your Safety Temperature?

1. OTHER SAFETY ITEMS - 10 minutes

Employee Safety Spotlights - Employee Recognition

JSO Update

Safety Audits Update

OPEN SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS - 10 minutes

Employee Safety Concerns & Issues

Solicit Your People’s Input & Feedback

One fond memory that I have - that helped me to become the Safety Trainer that I am today happened several years ago -

✦ I was conducting one of my first Safety Training Classes after just taking over as the Divisions Safety Manager.

✦ Just after I started my Safety Training Class - one of the seasoned Mechanics in the group stood up and asked me... “What the hell do you know about Safety - since you haven’t done what we do?”

✦ From that moment on - I made it a point to be the Best Safety Trainer that I could be. My promise was to -

✴ Know the Safety Topic that I was teaching inside out - Know how how it related to those that I was teaching and how it could improve their Workplace Safety.

✴ And to rely on my Workforce to not only teach me what they knew...but to help me to make a Safety difference.

Solicit Your People’s Input & Feedback

As a Safety Leader and Trainer -

✦ I feel that it is critical to solicit input from Your People not only on your Safety Training

✦ But your Safety Efforts in general

Take time when performing your Safety Walks to stop and talk to your People about your Safety Efforts and Training

✦ Ask them if such is making a Safety Difference

✦ Encourage them to give you suggestions and recommendations to improve and how to make more of a Safety Difference in their Workplace

Remember that Your People are the ones actually performing the Work.....LEARN FROM THEM!

Ways to Solicit Your People’s Input & Feedback

Personal Questions - can be asked during your Safety Walks. Take time to ask your People for their thoughts, ideas, concerns, and suggestions on Safety.

✦ I would often walk the plant floor each day - stopping my People and asked them about their Safety.

✦ I would ask them what their concerns were and if we were sufficiently acting on them.

✦ In addition I would ask them about their responsibilities and how we could make them Safer.

Safety Tests or Questionnaires - can give you a pulse on whether your Safety Training is understood by your Workforce.

✦ One approach that I used was to start a Safety Training Class with a Safety Test on the Safety Topic that I was teaching.

✦ I then adjusted my Safety Training to how well they knew or did not know the particular Safety Topic.

Ways to Solicit Your People’s Input & Feedback

Safety Perception Surveys - can be used to assess your Safety Efforts and that of your Organization.

✦ If you use such - make sure that you set time aside to act on - because you will find Safety Issues that will need attention.

Safety Results - should be used as a barometer of the Safety - Knowledge, understanding, and practice of your People.

✦ I would also include in my Safety Training a review of what I called a “Our Safety Temperature.”

✦ This showed the Safety Results of my Plant - broken down by Workgroup, Type of Safety Incidents, Frequency, etc.

✦ I used it as a Safety Communication Tool as well as an aide in showing where our Safety Efforts should be spent and concentrated.

Employee Safety Participation - as a Safety Leader and Trainer - you should always consider and use the level of participation of your People in the organizational Safety Efforts as a guiding factor.

Successful Organizations - will include active participation of their People their Safety Efforts.

✦ If your People’s Safety Participation is low - whether in your Safety Training or your organizational Safety Efforts - you must identify why, then aggressively act on increasing their Safety Participation.

Teach Safety With a PASSIONIf I could offer one piece of advice to any Safety Leader....

BE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR

PEOPLE’S SAFETY -

AND YOUR EFFORTS TO TRAIN

AND PROTECT THEM

Passion for Safety if used in the correct manner....spreads!

How I Show My Passionfor SAFETY

The following are ways that I show by Passion for Safety and in my Safety Teachings -

Throughly prepare for a Safety Session - with the Goal to give my People “Safety Take-Aways” - that they can apply to their Workplace, and possibly take home with them as well.

Note down and act on any and all Safety Concerns raised by any of my People.

Spend time to learn how my People perform their operations and responsibilities - and the Safety difficulties that they may encounter in performing them.

Treat each of my People as if I am personally responsible for their Safety - and show them through my Safety Actions, Efforts, and Teachings.

By showing your People that you believe in Safety and in their Safety - your Passion will spread and grow - and for that...you have made a Safety Difference.

Questions or Comments?Send them to me via “Linked in”I hope that this

offering on “How to Conduct Effective Safety Training” - has given You

something to take away - and that you can

use to help improve your Safety Training.

Steve Wise