Setting Up A Plan For Employee Training

June 29, 2000
Safety and health manager tells attendees at ASSE conference how to plan an employee training course and make it fun.

Training employees is a must for safety. But how do you train employees and give them the information they need to know while still keeping things interesting and fun?

Barry R. Weissman, CSP, manager of safety and health at EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Iselin, N.J., offered attendees of the American Society of Safety Engineers'' Conference some helpful training tips and techniques.

Weissman first suggested beginning a training class with some type of welcome exercise and ice breaker.

For example, have each participant introduce themselves and say where they are from or pair participants up and ask each to introduce the other to the whole group.

Next, give participants an agenda so they know what topics will be covered an how much time will be spent on each topic.

Weissman said it is important to keep the training session interesting and memorable. People remember up to 50 percent of what they both see and hear after 50 days with one exposure.

"Remember to keep the ''fun'' in fundamentals," said Weissman. "Pictures are a great way to make people remember things."

Most employees attend training courses because they are required to be there. But Weissman said it is also important to ensure that they want to be there. Giving them another reason why they should attend a training session could be helpful in keeping participants'' attention.

"Most of the time what participants learn in a training class to keep them safe on the job can also be used to keep them safe off the job," said Weissman. "Point these things out."

Adults have a short attention span, according to Weissman. He suggested taking short stretch breaks throughout the training class and using the "bells and whistles" on power point presentations where applicable.

As the trainer, always have a lesson plan, said Weissman. "Lesson planning should include the objectives of the training, preparation, knowledge of the subject and sequencing of the learning," noted Weissman.

He cautioned trainers keep in mind how well information is presented. "Don''t use slides on a power point of things people can''t see," said Weissman. "Likewise, avoid using 50 lines of text on an overhead slide."

To conclude a training class, summarize the information given and test the participants on their comprehension. Weissman said this can be done by using small quizzes on each topic or one test on everything.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Avetta Named a Leader in The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Supply Chain Sustainability Software 2024

Nov. 26, 2024
Avetta was named a leader by Verdantix in a 2024 sustainability software report for our ability to help clients and suppliers build sustainable supply chains.

Avetta is a Leader in Supply Chain Sustainability Software

Nov. 26, 2024
Verdantix has named Avetta a leader in its 2024 Green Quadrant for Supply Chain Sustainability Software. Download the report for independent insights into market trends and top...

The Power of Benchmarking in Procurement: Driving Success and Strategic Planning

Nov. 26, 2024
Explore the strategic impact of benchmarking in procurement to drive success and plan effectively.

The Five Eras of Safety Maturity

Nov. 26, 2024
Discover the 5 Eras of Safety Maturity, from reactive measures to data-driven assurance, and how organizations can evolve toward proactive safety cultures.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!