Effective Training Steps

To identify the training topics required so employees can perform their job in a safe and effective manner:

• Review Your Written Records such as:
  • OSHA log 300 records all work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses that require more than first aid treatment (see http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/oshalog300.pdf)
  • worker reports or complaints,
  • workers' compensation reports
  • job safety/hazard analysis

  Your workers' compensation insurance carrier may offer risk-management services that can provide workplace assessment surveys.

• Review the Cal/OSHA list of Safety and Health Training and Instruction Requirements to see which topics apply to your workplace.
• Look for Clues - carefully observe your workplace and employees' work activities to evaluate specific hazards and potential improvements for each hazard. Look for:
  • Unsafe conditions, work practices or behaviors (which may indicate initial training has not been done or re-training is necessary)
  • Problems in production lines
  • Worker fatigue, discomfort, injuries, or reports of related problems
  • Workers modifying tools, equipment, or work stations on their own
  • Increases in absenteeism, worker turnover rates, or customer complaints
  • Decreases in product or service quality or employee morale
  • Increases in error rates, rejects or wasted materials
  • Malfunctioning equipment
  • Missed deadlines dead lines
  • Accidents and near misses
  • New equipment, processes, chemicals, and work practices which require training
• Get Input from Employees - talk to employees, supervisors, and managers about problems they have encountered. Get their ideas for altering work processes, operations, tools, or equipment. Ask them how they would make their jobs safer and more efficient.

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