Tom TC Conn is a member of the Safety Improvement Team at Warehouse Specialists Inc and can be contacted at mailto:contom@wsinc.com
There are a number of options for safety training, including the use of external professionals. But many organisations have significant expertise in-house and can use their own staff to teach others.
The "Train-the-Trainer" approach is a valuable tool, but it needs to be approached directly.
It is an Occupational Safety & Health Administration requirement that all employers properly train their employees to meet all safety rules and regulations and provide a safe environment to work in. This raises the question of how we provide this valuable training.
OSHA 1910.178(l)(2)(iii) states that all an instructor needs to have is the knowledge, training and experience to be a trainer. Is this enough?
I think we should look at this a little deeper. As a CEO, do you just walk through our facility and say: "Hey Joe, you have worked with the company for 15 years, Sue has turned in her retirement papers so you are now going be the company trainer. I know you will do a great job?"
What is required for Joe to become an effective trainer? He has knowledge, training and experience, so he might meet the OSHA requirements. But what one thing does Joe need to have to make this assignment work for him and the company?
I would argue that he must have the DESIRE. What is desire? Well, one of the definitions in Webster states: "it is a strong conscious impulse to have, be, or do something". Does everyone have the desire to be a trainer? Anyone can turn on a TV/DVD player and insert a training video, come back after the video presentation is over and ask if anyone has any questions. But if the instructor is not really dedicated to the training program and willing to go the extra mile to gain all the training that they can to better educate themselves, how are they going to be able to prepare company employees to believe in the company training program and transfer that information onto each employee?
"Train-the-Trainer" is a very valuable tool and responsibility at our company and should be at any company. We require any employee with a desire to become a trainer to attend, as a minimum, an in-house "Train-the-Trainer" course, which consists of the trainer-in-training to be a guest of a trainer conducting a training course.
The trainer-in-training attends the class to observe the trainer and see how the class is conducted and how the material is presented. We also get them involved in discussions by calling on them to help clarify a trainee question. This not only puts them on the spot, but allows them to start working with a training class and get more involved as a trainer, and not just as a trainee in class.
They then receive additional training during a one-on-one Train-the-Trainer course that explains the information that must be covered and gives information on how to conduct a successful training session.
Also available are higher educational opportunities outside the company - and these are invaluable to a trainer. These educational sessions allow you to be with others who can share information and are great when you are looking at trying to keep your training sessions as up to date and fresh as possible.
I have conducted several company Train-the-Trainer classes. Before I was able to do this, I also attended the company Train-the-Trainer course and had the opportunity to attend a Train-the-Trainer course facilitated by an instructor from the National Safety Council. I also have attended other company and non-company training classes. At each one, I have always come back with fresh ideas and valuable information that helps make my training classes more informational and, hopefully, entertaining.
The one approach that I dislike more than any is: "We do not have time to conduct this training; we have to get the work completed". Well, I like to come back with my own response: "You do not have time to
NOT conduct this training".
Train-the-Trainer should be an ongoing educational system within any company. For a company to be highly successful, it must have qualified trainers who have the desire to go that extra mile and not only take on the responsibility to better educate themselves but they also must have the desire to pass that information along to fellow employees to make the workplace a safe environment to work in.
If you are ever asked to become a trainer or think you might like to become a trainer, please ask yourself this question: "I have the knowledge, the training and the experience to be a trainer, but do I have the DESIRE?"
Good luck and BE SAFE!