Companies are ditching check-boxes for safety training

Photo by Piotr Chrobot on Unsplash
Historically, businesses would treat safety training as a box-checking activity. A manager would sit staff down in front of a proper handling video, wait 30 minutes for it to end, and then tick a piece of paper before moving on to the next obligation.
However, setups like these are changing. Companies like More Than Safety Training are creating waves in the industry by adopting a new mastery-based approach that seeks to make safety training a more serious and integral aspect of doing business.
At present, the main safety training issue is fast-changing safety needs. Companies operate in dynamic, high-pressure environments where the context regularly evolves.
Leading trainers now recognize this reality and want to change the industry. Top brands are making their training more dynamic and ongoing, ensuring they develop safety cultures rather than grudging compliance with legislation.
Part of this effort involves uncovering performance factors – the things that affect safety-related workplace behaviors. Trainers know that sitting people through instructional videos isn’t enough to institute organizational change. Positive attitudes need to come from the top.
One proposition is the use of role-based factors. Many companies are now assigning individuals as safety leaders or officers, getting them to demonstrate the proper behavior and then encouraging others to do the same.
Talking to employees directly about their working conditions is another approach being taken. Empathetic individuals are asking colleagues about their jobs and what, if anything, can be done to make them safer.
Physically observing what workers are doing is helping businesses create better training and performance support. Managers can survey real-world conditions in retail units, factories, and warehouses, and look for factors that might interfere with regular safe operations, the type that theoretical board-level discussions usually omit.
Equipping the whole person
Part of this latest development also involves equipping the whole person. Trainers want companies to know that simply telling employees what to do (and what not to do) isn’t enough. Workers also require social, behavioral, and emotional tools to make the right decisions in a given context.
For example, many workers may feel uncomfortable approaching a manager about a dangerous situation they witness for fear of disciplinary action or retribution. The trick to holistic training is to use methods that reassure workers that it’s okay to come forward and whistleblow. Managers are now increasingly present during training to provide role-playing that encourages a more open discussion about safety risks.
Sustaining positive impacts
Trainers are also increasingly recognizing the value of sustaining positive impacts over time. Companies now understand that a one-off safety session is unlikely to yield lasting change in their organizations.
For this reason, many now provide ongoing services that repeatedly expose colleagues to the same information over time. This approach helps to program workers to follow compliance requirements, regardless of the length of their employment.
Ultimately, these changes in training procedures are helping companies avoid getting burned by bad accidents. Organizations are looking to protect themselves from legal liability while taking more responsibility for their staff. It is a trend that’s likely to continue for a long time.