a good safety training program can succeed in keeping people safe only if it is deployed in an operation that keeps its facilities clear of hazards and its equipment in good working order.

In the last decade, trends have come and gone in safety and occupational health initiatives. OSHA’s approach to organizations has also changed over time. Once a “cop” that enforced regulations, today the agency is much more about partnerships with companies. The most dramatic change, however, has been in the delivery of safety training. Ten years ago, video was the primary training tool. today, advancements in technology and the now-ubiquitous Internet are providing safety trainers with sophisticated Web applications that are quick to access and easy to customize to a company's safety training needs. Technology has facilitated every single process in the manufacturing environment, from sales to HR, to operations, to management, to logistics. Why not let it enhance safety training for greater productivity and efficiency?

Safety Is Critical
Safety and security have never been so much at the forefront of public attention as in recent years. A series of disasters and emergencies began in 2001 with 9/11, followed by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and then the unusually severe hurricane season of 2005, culminating in Katrina.

What do these disasters and incidents have to do with manufacturing companies? Plenty. Each incident, no matter how far removed it appears to be from everyday manufacturing operations, carries an important lesson for safety and security in every business.

Sept. 11 stresses the critical need for first-responder training. First responders (whether firefighters or employees at a manufacturing company) must be trained for every eventuality so they can mitigate the effects of an incident while keeping themselves and others safe. That’s true for a disaster as much as it is for “minor” incidents such as a chemical spill or explosion in a factory.

Hurricane Katrina drew attention to the loss of life that follows when government agencies, organizations and the public at large are totally unprepared for an event, even though it has been predicted for years. The situation in New Orleans was a clear demonstration of the effects of poor or non-existent communications, escape routes and emergency shelters.

The shooting rampage at Virginia Tech demonstrated the inconceivable could happen even in a generally safe environment such as a college campus. The same is true for a small manufacturing company. Security measures must be in place; people must be trained to respond correctly should an employee turn to violence, and they must be trained to recognize the warning signs of a troubled coworker.

Frequent cases of e-coli and salmonella contamination stress the importance of getting employees trained in food safety, whether they are involved in the manufacture of foods or just work in the company cafeteria. It’s much less expensive to implement a solid training program than deal with the effects of accidental food poisoning or intentional product tampering. Lax quality controls have proven very expensive for companies that sought to save money by obtaining toys and food ingredients from China. It would have been much less costly to train employees and set up procedures to subject products to more rigorous testing and inspection.

Preventing adverse events and mitigating the effects of unavoidable incidents comes down to a clear message, simple protocols to follow and training for everyone. If people are aware of potential dangers and know what to do, they can prevent the lion’s share of incidents and ensure safety should a major disaster or minor incident occur despite the best precautions.

New Training Methods
Although safety training should cover the eventuality of huge disasters, it’s not just about events that make the news. It’s about a range of job-related incidents that result in workers’ compensation claims and OSHA regulations. Employees who are not well trained may be unaware they are acting in a manner that puts them and their coworkers in danger.

Keeping people safe from such a wide range of possible dangers, natural and man-made, is a tall order for safety professionals. In addition to training, they are busy conducting safety audits, compiling management reports and following up on incidents to prevent future occurrences. At smaller companies, they may wear other hats, as well.

Cutting-edge online training and streaming video facilitate the deployment of safety training to a diverse work force. Look for programs that include:

• A comprehensive, media-rich learning experience through high-end graphics, animation and on-site footage
• Facilitation by leading safety experts to bring the latest in accident prevention and incident response to every individual
• Customizable tests and quizzes to measure comprehension and retention
• Flexibility so companies can add their own photos, audios or text
• Capability to automatically track student progress and test scores
• Availability in many languages to ensure consistent delivery to every employee
• Deliverability to networks and computers anywhere, anytime to accommodate different work hours, and to allow individuals to learn at their own pace

But what about jobs? Manufacturers concerned about losing jobs to low-cost countries may worry that new technologies will displace safety professionals, but that’s just not the case. Rather, safety professionals can use Web-based training to complement their own strengths for a more comprehensive program. They can leave the delivery of training to experts while focusing on other critical aspects of their jobs.

Training Alone Is Not Enough
How much does Web-based training cost? As with any investment, if the business case is solid, the ROI will make it all worthwhile. Manufacturers big and small that have partnered with experienced training organizations and implemented Web-based training have found that it not only lowers the incidence of accidents and injuries, but also trains employees in the proper handling of equipment to prevent damage to tools and reduce machine downtime.

Of course, a good safety training program can succeed in keeping people safe only if it is deployed in an operation that keeps its facilities clear of hazards and its equipment in good working order. In combination, these measures reduce workers’ compensation claims, minimize lost work time and increase organizational efficiency so that products can be brought to market faster. ͯ

Bryan Hornik is sales director for Summit Training Source Inc., which is a resource for environmental, health and safety training solutions. For further information, call 800-842-0466 or visit www.safetyontheweb.com.