If you or your organization have never done safety training with your employees now is a good time to prepare for it. This is a simple guide to assembling and delivering a safety training program. If you require a detailed template of what to include in a safety training program it can be found as part of our orientation checklist template.
Safety Training
Decide what training your organization needs
- What do workers need in terms of skill or knowledge in order to do their job safely? Identify any gaps in workers’ skills.
- Review your near misses log, if you have one. Review any past injuries or accidents on site. This information will guide you to what information to focus on in the training.
- Conduct a risk assessment and identify ways in which to counteract or control those hazards.
- Decide who in your organisation needs this training, is it all staff or do some managers require a separate training module?
- Decide who will be responsible for what once the training is completed. Will there be a health and safety supervisor?
Decide your training priorities
Firstly, you need to decide what the law in your area tells you you need to cover in your safety training. Consult your local Health and Safety statutory body in order to find out the legislation that covers this.
Some priorities for your training might be:
- Anyone who may be harmed as a result of not having sufficient training
- Any new employees who are unfamiliar with the layout of the work site
- Anyone who is changing roles within the company
- Anyone using new equipment or processes
It is a good idea to consult with workers for their views on what to prioritize in training as they may have a very different perspective to you.
Choose your training methods and resources
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Many companies will bring in outside consultants or trainers to deliver safety training but it is not the only option. Much of your training can be done in-house and it does have the advantage of getting management to ‘invest’ in the process rather than handing all responsibility over to a third party.
Different training methods include:
- Giving instruction or information
- Giving a presentation with video and images
- Giving ‘on-the-job’ training and practical instruction
- Online safety training that may include video, text, image and so on.
You should make sure that you meet the training needs of all of your workforce, including migrant workers who might not have good English, or those with disabilities, such as of sight or hearing. This may require a heavier dependence on info-graphics or videos. It may also require specialist materials such as braille documents.
Be proactive in finding resources to help you assemble the information that will be included in your training. There are many government and independent bodies that will be able to assist you with training materials and information.
Deliver the training
Ensure that the training is easy to understand and is delivered in an interesting and impactful way.
Make sure that the trainer has enough time to prepare for the training and is properly resourced to do this.
As with all Health and Safety guides it is important to be aware of any legislative changes that may impact on your training and to stay up-to-date. Sections to cover include:
- Fire Safety – Prevention and detection
- Fire Safety – How to deal with a fire
- Fire Safety – Fire Drills (Tip: take a recording of the fire alarm in your building and play it during the induction)
- Hazards in the Workplace – Working with electricity
- Hazards in the Workplace – Working at height
- Hazards in the Workplace – Slips, Trips and Falls
- Hazards in the Workplace – The Fatal 4 (Falls, Stuck between objects, Struck by objects, Electrocutions)
- Hazards in the Workplace – Manual Handling
- Hazards in the Workplace – Fumes and Ambient Dust
- Hazards in the Workplace – Personal Protection Equipment
- Hazards in the Workplace – Accident Reporting
Check that the training has worked
Do your employees understand what you require of them? Do they now have the knowledge and skills needed to work safely and without risk to health? Are they actually working as they have been trained to?
Has there been any improvement in your organisation’s health and safety performance? What feedback are you getting from line managers and the people who have been trained? Is further information and/or training needed?
It can help you manage training if you keep records, even if it is in-house training. You should monitor training records so that refresher training can be given when needed.
If you or your company would like to take your safety training online for improved speed of delivery and consistency of message For more information Watch our 60 seconds Video or Take a Free Demo Today.
