In our visits to your site during safety inspections, we always ask about your safety training and how it is conducted.  Often, safety training can become routine.  It’s just something sites have to do to meet basic WISHA rules.  But training is so much more. 

Effective safety training should first address what safety policies and procedures you have in place.  Key safety policies include an Accident Prevention Program and all the required WISHA programs such as Bloodborne Pathogen, Fall Protection, Heat Exhaustion, and Hazard Communication.  These policies and procedures should also pinpoint who is specifically in charge of each of these programs at your site.  If you need help improving your current programs, contact Cathy Reineke at cathy.reineke@compriskmgt.com.  She will be glad to provide you with L&I recommended templates to help you enhance

No matter what method you use to conduct training (Relias, in-person, new employee orientation), each employee should receive a written copy of these programs and have a chance to review them and ask questions.  They should also sign an acknowledgment of having received, read, and understood each of these programs.  This gives the employer the opportunity to then address any issues when an employee is working in an unsafe manner.  Copies of those signed training receipt acknowledgments should be kept in the employee’s personnel file.

Violations of safety policies and procedures should be treated the same as any human resource policy or procedure violation.  The same accountability you use in human resource issues (excessive absenteeism, poor work habits, etc.) should be used where safety violations occur. 

In order to hold an employee accountable for safe job performance:

• First have good safety policies and procedures.
• Second, train to the policies and procedures, and
• Third, hold the employee accountable.

This gives your facility a good prescription for instilling a safety culture. 

Questions? Contact Cathy Reineke at cathy.reineke@compriskmgt.com.