The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requires all employers to ensure their workers are trained in how to remain safe on the job. Required training includes program awareness, training for employers, managers, and supervisors, worker role-specific training, and hazard identification and controls.
Many employers make the mistake of providing the first and second type of training, but not the third and fourth. They may give workers a briefing on general safety, and they usually ensure that managers and supervisors understand their safety responsibilities.
But accidents happen when workers don’t know how to incorporate correct safety protocols into their daily work. That’s why role-based training for workers is just as important–and required–as the first two types.
What is role-specific safety training for workers?
Role-specific safety training for workers is focused training that teaches front-line workers how to incorporate safe practices into their daily routines and activities. It is covered by OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs.
How to institute role-specific safety training for workers
In order to ensure each worker receives role-specific safety training, start by identifying specific hazards in your work environment that impact each role’s daily activities. Define the correct safety protocols, and establish programs to ensure that every worker receives hands-on instruction in them.
Training should include:
- How to report injuries, illness, and incidents
- How to report safety and health concerns
- Specific skills for reporting–for instance, if a computerized system is used, skills in using the system; if the system is paper-based, where to find the correct forms and how to file them
- Their specific responsibility for hazard recognition and controls, participation in incident investigations, and program evaluation and improvement
In addition, provide plenty of time and space for workers to ask questions during and after training, to ensure that they completely understand their responsibilities. Periodically update the training with new information and to reinforce existing information.
As your worker safety training evolves, document a formal process for determining training needs for each worker role, and for developing, implementing, and maintaining the program.
A correctly designed worker safety training program is invaluable in preventing tragic accidents on the worksite, reducing the potential for litigation, and decreasing worker’s comp and other expenses associated with worker injuries. It is worth the time and expense to do it right.
If you’d like help designing your worker safety training program, our certified safety professionals are on hand to answer your questions. Contact us today.
