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Effective safety training is an unofficial phrase used to describe the training
materials designed to teach occupational safety and health standards developed
by the United States government labor organization, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has produced many standards and
regulations that affect employers and employees in the United States. United
States employers have a legal responsibility to educate employees on all
workplace safety standards and the hazards that their employees may face while
on the job, and providing effective safety training meets that responsibility.
Introduction
Employers must have an overall safety program including relative site specific
safety information where applicable. The safety training program should cover
topics such as:
accident prevention and safety promotion
safety compliance
accident and emergency response
personal protective equipment
safety practices
equipment and machinery
chemical and hazardous materials safety
workplace hazards
employee involvement
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Employers must document all training. Creating a training matrix will help keep
track of who has been trained, when they were trained, the training topic, and
when it is time for refresher training. Employees must also sign an official sign-
in sheet provided by the employer that can serve as proof that employees
received proper training. The sign in sheet must have a broad description of
what is being covered in the training. Tests or quizzes on the presented material
can help gauge employee understanding of the material and highlight topics that
need to be reviewed.
The non-English speaking population is consistently growing in many industries
and it is important that employers provide bilingual training for those workers,
as OSHA requires that all employees be properly trained.
Most employees display attitudes of disinterest and dread at the thought of
attending a safety training, which can leave the trainer feeling frustrated and
unappreciated. It is the trainer's duty to make safety training fun and
educational, which will help the trainees to retain the information, enjoy the
course, and apply the learning to their work and lives.
Benefits of a training program
An effective training program can reduce the number of injuries and deaths,
property damage, legal liability, illnesses, workers' compensation claims, and
missed time from work. An effective safety training program can also help a
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trainer keep the required OSHA-mandated safety training courses organized and
up-to-date.
Safety training classes help establish a safety culture in which employees
themselves help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. It is
important that new employees be properly trained and embrace the importance
of workplace safety as it is easy for seasoned workers to negatively influence
the new hires. That negative influence however, can be purged with the
establishment of new, hands-on, innovative effective safety training which will
ultimately lead to an effective safety culture. A 1998 NIOSH study concluded
that the role of training in developing and maintaining effective hazard control
activities is a proven and successful method of intervention.