Safety Training Techniques and Benefits for Your Facility
By: Jane Marsh, Contributor
Have a contingency plan in place to ensure that everyone in the facility understands how to react to unexpected problems, like natural disasters. © zimmytws – stock.adobe.com
Workplace safety is an integral part of operating any business or organization. Keeping your team safe reduces the chances of accidents or fatalities in the workplace. Improving workplace safety increases employee morale and productivity while reducing costs. What are some of the best safety training techniques, and what benefits can they offer your facility?
Create a Safety Culture
One of the best training techniques for improving workplace safety is to create a safety culture. Instead of only focusing on safety rules and regulations, a safety culture turns it from an abstract concept into a mindset that everyone can take on and embrace.
This safety culture should involve employees at every level, from the newest hire to the highest-paid executive. Those in leadership positions should strive to model the kind of safety-centered behavior they wish to see in the workplace.
Conduct a Risk Assessment
Determining the best way to create a safety training plan starts with understanding where the risks lie. A comprehensive risk assessment can be one of the most useful tools in your arsenal. Take the time to determine where risks might exist in your facility. This list should include both work-related risks and a contingency plan for emergencies that might occur.
Natural disasters, pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 and anything else that might throw a wrench in your plans need a contingency plan to ensure that everyone in the facility understands how to react.
Start with Program Awareness Training
It can be challenging to set up a comprehensive safety training plan for those who will be impacted by it. The first step should always be making everyone aware of the training program. Each person in the facility should understand what the program entails, including structure, plans, procedures and any other relevant information that could impact training or workplace safety.
This step should include a comprehensive list of steps, from the policies already in place to the requirements for reporting accidents or near-misses.
Ensure That Everyone is Aware of Their Roles
Not every employee will require the same level of safety training. Those in roles that require contact with hazardous equipment or chemicals, for example, will need more safety training than those who work in less specialized positions.
Compartmentalizing the training means that you’re not wasting employees’ time on training that they don’t need and may never use. At the same time, ensure that there are opportunities for additional training as team members change positions or receive promotions. Safety training should be a continuous process rather than something that ends as soon as onboarding is complete.
Provide Additional Hazard Identification Training
Regardless of the nature of the work in your facility, there are cases where additional hazard identification training is necessary. This training could include steps for handling a hazardous chemical spill or bloodborne pathogen training necessary to administer first aid safely. Look at your risk assessment to determine where these risks exist and use that information to determine who might need additional hazard identification training.
Benefits of Workplace Safety Training
What are the benefits of a comprehensive workplace safety training program?
- Improved Employee Morale — One survey from 2019 found that more than 94% of employees would stay with a company that provided comprehensive safety training.
- Reduced Costs — Fewer workplace accidents mean fewer workers’ compensation claims and less downtime to complete investigations.
- Lower Insurance Premiums — Keeping employees safe in the workplace can significantly reduce insurance premiums.
- Fewer Lost Work Days — A workplace injury can shut down a facility for a few hours. A fatality can do the same for days while investigations take place. Safety training reduces the number of lost workdays.
Creating a Safety-Centric Future
Workplace safety should be at the core of every facility. Employees are the heart and soul of any organization and should be protected. Comprehensive safety training techniques will benefit any facility that implements them, starting by keeping employees safe while they work. WMHS
Jane Marsh covers topics in green technology and manufacturing. She also works as the Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co
