Safety isn’t a checkbox on a to-do list; it’s an on-going necessity that requires commitment and dedication. According to AlertMedia, 67% of employees believe that more emergencies are impacting the workplace than ever before. In other words, safety is a top concern for many. 

The good news is that co-workers do typically care for one another and understand that safety is everyone’s responsibility. The problem is that safety isn’t always top of mind. Complacency is a real (and dangerous) problem. It’s easy for employees go on autopilot and forget the significance of what they are doing and the potential risks that come with it. 

The answer to keeping safety top of mind is a comprehensive safety training program that promotes continuous learning and improvement. With effective training, you can get employees started on the right track during orientation and continue to reinforce correct behaviors on the floor. The result is a strong safety culture that improves employee engagement, safety, and compliance. 

Here are 5 training tips to supercharge your safety program:

1) Build a Culture

Your safety training program is the foundation of your safety culture. From orientation onward, it should establish your safety culture’s mission and expectations.  

And it’s important to note that creating and sustaining a safety culture is a journey, not a destination. It requires all hands-on deck, from your frontline employees to your senior leadership. It takes consistent messaging and constant reinforcement to keep it top of mind and in motion.   

2) Designate a Theme

Having a theme for your safety training program is a great way to unify your organization. Get creative with your theme by aligning it to your company’s core values and making it easy to remember. Some examples include, “nothing we do is worth getting hurt for” and “see something, say something, do something.” Pro tip: the more you communicate the theme and relate it to your employees, the more likely they are to rally behind it!

3) Take a Positive Approach

Something that often gets forgotten is the need to approach safety training in a positive light. If there are too many negative “don’t do this” interactions and examples in your safety training, it will create disengagement. Be encouraging and show employees the right way to do their job. It’s also important to interact with your employees by asking for their input during training, it helps keep them engaged and ensures they understand the safety protocols.

4) Follow Up and Follow-Through On-the-Floor

Training should never stop after orientation and on-boarding. It should be a continuous process that goes beyond the first few weeks on-the-job by continuously validating training is correctly applied on the floor. One way to do this is using Intertek Alchemy’s Coach mobile app. This app allows you to create and document custom observations based on standard operating procedures (SOPs) that facilitate root cause analysis and corrective action plans. It’s also important to create a refresher training schedule for your most critical safety procedures at your plant. This can be on a monthly or quarterly cadence, whatever fits your needs best. 

Without validating behaviors on-the-floor and implementing refresher training, you are running yourself at a greater risk of frequent and more severe incidents. Giving reminders goes a long way when it comes to safety.

5) Set Goals

And last, but certainly not least, be clear on what the goals are for your safety program. Determine what you aim to achieve and align your goals accordingly. Reducing incident rates and lowering workers compensation claims are common safety goals. It’s also a best practice to set smaller short-term goals that help you reach your long-term goals. For example, you may want to reduce incidents by x% every quarter until you get to your set goal.

To help achieve your goals, communicate them with your employees to get their buy-in and keep them top of mind. Also, provide updates on your progress at a regular cadence. 

Safety training should be a powerful tool for your safety program. Bring your training program to life and watch your safety goals, compliance, and culture improve exponentially. In fact,  McCormick & Co. has gone 3.5 years without a recordable injury since leveraging the Alchemy Training System for their safety training program. We invite you to contact us today to see how we can help you build a successful safety training program!