For many organizations, large and small, the responsibility for implementing safety training falls on the shoulders of the human resources department. Few businesses have the resources for a dedicated college-trained safety director on salary. This means HR professionals who already wear many hats are tasked with keeping accurate safety records, compliance reports and developing effective safety training programs. The result can be an overwhelmed HR representative who lacks the knowledge and experience of a trained safety professional.

An inadequate understanding of occupational safety measures can result in an increased risk of injury and illness, potentially impacting employees’ health and future earnings not to mention operational disruption.

The National Safety Council (NSC) published an Injury Facts overview which offers several statistics that demonstrates why safety conscientiousness remains a critical component of successful business operations:

• Total cost of work injuries in 2019: $171 billion
• Direct workers’ compensation for non-fatal injuries: $1 billion per week
• Medically consulted injuries: 4,640,000 annually
• Preventable injury-related deaths: 4,572 annually

But there are other reasons to prioritize safety training in your facility.

To Schedule a Safety Training or Onsite Inspection, CALL 256-248-0413.

Regulatory Compliance

Safety training has many benefits, including reducing the likelihood that a governing body will uncover safety violations. In 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) performed 21,674 inspections and issued 24,000 citations in the following categories:

• Fall Protection — General Requirements: 5,424 citations
• Hazard Communication: 3,199 citations
• Respiratory Protection: 2,649 citations
• Scaffolding: 2,538 citations
• Lockout/Tagout: 2,605 citations
• Ladders: 2,129 citations
• Powered Industrial Trucks: 1,932 citations
• Fall Protection— Training Requirements: 1,621 citations
• PPE— Eye and Face Protection: 1,369 citations
• Machine Guarding: 1,313 citations

Through ongoing education and training, not only is your workforce less likely to experience a devastating injury, but they are more apt to spot gaps in safety protocols for a safer work environment.

Employee Morale

In a recent article by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), employee involvement was an integral piece of the safety puzzle. When employees are included in the design and implementation of safety training programs, they are more likely to participate fully in the program and feel more secure in their roles. Additionally, safety training enables companies to pinpoint employees who may be struggling and could benefit from extra safety and job training.

Clear communication of job-related safety expectations combined with support empowers both employees and managing staff to have more productive interactions.

Lower Absenteeism

When injury or illness strikes due to an occupational hazard, productivity suffers. When experienced employees miss time due to an on-the-job injury it can negatively impact production line operations, industry reputation and revenue.

In addition to training inexperienced workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that safety training can be beneficial to veteran workers between the ages of 45 and 55 who tend to have the highest number of days away from work following an injury. Taking steps like improved safety training can result in a marked improvement in absenteeism and employee retention, saving thousands in employee replacement costs and compensation.

Operational Costs

Employees are not just your company’s backbone. They are its life force. It is why safety should always be the first priority when considering company policy and processes. Employee safety is a good business strategy for other reasons as well. In-depth safety training can safeguard your business from fines, injuries, fatalities, productivity loss and insurance claims. Safety training that is job specific can help businesses avoid liability for negligence, reduce lost-time incidents and decrease overall costs through improved compliance.

 

Comparing In-Person Safety Training to Virtual Options

The worldwide pandemic forced many companies to delay on-site safety training, exposing them to potential risks and fines associated with inadequate safety programs. Fortunately, the availability of virtual training programs enabled organizations to offer learning opportunities and skills training in a safe environment, despite these limitations. Curious how virtual learning compares to in-person training? Let’s explore the advantages and limitations of each style.

Advantages of onsite safety training:

1. Camaraderie
2. No pass/fail requirements
3. Improve worker safety
4. Achieve regulatory compliance
5. Achieve cost savings

OSHA prefers onsite training as it allows the employers and workers to ask questions in person and it offers more opportunities for deeper discussion. As the old saying goes, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” For that reason, on-site training is an ideal opportunity for your trainer to spot potential hazards you may not have been aware of.

In those cases, your trainer may recommend a site inspection to help you identify and solve potential risks with preventative measures before they become a problem. Not only does OSHA require ongoing facility inspections, but these evaluations also offer an additional layer of protection, improving safety awareness across the facility. A site inspection often consists of the following:

• Evaluation of existing facilities, processes, materials, equipment and job hazards
• Routine site safety and health inspections
• Established hazard communication practices
• Investigation of accidents, injuries and near-misses
• Tracking trends and patterns and identifying solutions that prevent future incidents

Limitations of onsite safety training:

1. Time-consuming
2. Less cost-effective than online courses
3. May include trainer travel costs
4. Does not enable social distancing

However, on-site training isn’t always necessary or possible, as evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Shutdowns and social distancing requirements made it difficult for companies to offer education and training seminars in person. Fortunately, digital options exist and allowed organizations to fulfill or supplement safety training requirements.

Advantages of online safety training:

1. Convenient
2. Allows workers to train at their own pace
3. Cost-effective
4. Caters to various learning styles
5. Enables social distancing

Limitations of online safety training:

1. Lack of in-person verbal communication and Q&A segment
2. Employees may have limited computer skills and access
3. Facilitators can’t access non-verbal cues to gauge understanding
4. Fewer opportunities for hands-on demonstrations
5. Does not offer the opportunity for the trainer to detect potential unseen hazards

Schedule Safety Training or Onsite Inspection CALL 256-248-0413

OSHA’s Stance on Virtual Safety Training

Many OSHA standards require employees receive adequate training to perform work in a safe and healthful manner. OSHA does allow employers to use online safety training to meet compliance requirements and considers online courses to be effective and valuable when coupled with hands-on practice and instruction from a competent person.

According to a Letter of Interpretation from OSHA, self-paced, interactive computer-based training can serve as a valuable training tool in the context of an overall training program. However, employers are recommended to include site-specific, tailored training specific to workers’ job duties.

Martin Safety Training and Inspections

Not all occupational safety training courses are the same and shouldn’t be. Different businesses have different needs regarding safety training programs and inspections and some may require more intensive safety skills training based on job needs, experience level and industry. Martin offers solutions to help HR professionals, production teams and safety managers meet those needs at every stage of training. We help companies:

• Improve worker safety
• Achieve regulatory compliance
• Achieve cost savings

Martin Safety offers safety training both on-site and virtually:

• Fall Arrest (Harness and Lanyard)
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Respiratory and Air-Purifying Respirators
• Employee Safety Training
• COVID-19 Preparedness
• Emergency Action Plans (EAP)
• Lockout Tagout
• Machine Guarding
• Confined Space
• Hand and Power Tool Safety
• Hazard Communication
• Martin 8-Hour General Industry Course and Training
• Hearing Conservation
• Workplace Violence
• Walking-Working Surfaces
• Pesticide Safety
• Fire Prevention /Fire Extinguishers
• View All Safety Training Courses and Inspections

Martin’s 8-Hour Safety Seminar

For your convenience, Martin Supply offers an 8-Hour Safety Seminar that teaches your employees how to identify, prevent and rectify workplace hazards. Unlike the voluntary OSHA-10 course that must take place over two days, Martin’s 8-Hour OSHA training can be completed in one day and counts toward regular OSHA-mandated safety training. Learn More.

At Martin Supply, we are committed to helping you operate better with safety training support, expert advice and reliable access to the right parts at the right time. Call and schedule an onsite evaluation of your current production processes.