Training: Reduce Injury, Illness and Meet OSHA Compliance by Occupational Safety Expert Sam Cramer

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For safety and Personal Protective equipment to prove valuable, no matter the cost, a properly developed and implemented training program is necessary. A well-designed, comprehensive training program that is used effectively can be the difference between money well spent and money wasted. However, tackling the issues associated with developing a comprehensive training program can prove to be a daunting task. Below are 3 common hurdles companies must leapfrog in order to implement a program that will help protect the safety of their workers.

Generational Gaps in the Workforce

The ever changing landscape of America´s workforce sometimes includes up to 4 generations of workers. The challenge facing many EH&S managers today is how to effectively train on workplace safety across the generational gaps.

Traditionalists- This group of workers was born before 1945 and grew up in a time of depression and war. They are considered hard workers and have "paid their dues" in the workforce.

Baby Boomers- This group represents those born between 1946 and 1964 and are considered the largest and most powerful group in our nation today. This group enjoyed a time of economic prosperity and wealth. They were also the first to be influenced by television.

Generation X- Represents those born between 1965 and the late 70´s. This group has come from working households, economic downturns, and times of war. They have been deemed more skeptical and sometimes less likely to follow rules.

Millennials or Generation Y- Represents those born in the late 70´s up to the mid 90´s. This group has been termed "techno-savvy" and grew up embracing technology. However they are also used to being entertained and are sometimes criticized for their apparent lack of attention.

How will you be able to identify the different generations and adapt a program to fit their needs? Is there a way to effectively train all of your workers in the way best suited for them to learn?

Language and Literacy Barriers

The term "Melting Pot" has been used for years to describe the many different ethnic backgrounds that have come to America for a place to call home. Some estimates have shown that up to 15 percent of the workforce consists of workers not born in the United States. Many foreign workers do not have a complete grasp of the English language and may rely on their native tongue. Many US companies also deal with the challenges of doing business on the international level, whether by owning a foreign company or being operated by a foreign parent company. The result of the globalization of the business world is a diverse and multilingual workforce.

If language barriers were not enough of a challenge, it is estimated that over 20 percent of the U.S. workforce is functionally illiterate. While these individuals may have a limited ability to read and write, they are unable to fully comprehend the complexities of the average safety flyer or training manual. How will your company face the language and literacy barriers present in your workforce? How will you make safety equipment easy to understand and operate in order to protect the safety of your workers?

Regulations and Compliance

Consider this scenario: Once you have identified the generational differences in your workforce, developed systems that all parties involved can easily comprehend, and are ready to launch the training…..the EPA mandates that loading operations be changed to solve ever growing environmental issues in your area. Just as you develop a program to train on today´s rules and regulations, the regulatory agencies change, developing a new list of do´s and don´ts. Being able to revise and retrain on new regulations promptly can prove to be extremely beneficial and efficient. International companies face another issue of compliance in the many locations they operate. A safety program that is compliant in the US may need to face a makeover before implementation overseas.

Are your programs up to date on current rules and regulations? Can the programs be adapted to changing situations without a large capital expense? How long would it take to pass important compliance information along to the many sites you may own or operate in?

To find out more about the information and help available to improve your safety programs, call Carbis, Inc. today at 1-800-845-2387 and ask how Carbis can help improve your safety, while keeping efficiency and productivity at the forefront.

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