Comments on: Safety Myth #6 – Safety Training http://michigansafetynews.com/safety-myth-6-safety-training/330 The Best Information for Safety Professionals on the Net! Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:21:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jeff Mather, Access Safety, LLC http://michigansafetynews.com/safety-myth-6-safety-training/330/comment-page-1#comment-122 Jeff Mather, Access Safety, LLC Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:47:31 +0000 http://michigansafetynews.com/?p=330#comment-122 Chris: A provocative and interesting read. I'm torn between wanting to praise your insight into a long standing problem in the safety profession, and wanting to defend the integrity of safety training. Both would be valid arguments. Perhaps that's your point. As a career safety consultant, I've had more than my share of opportunities to experience both sides of this issue and everything in-between. In recent years, embolden by a few gray hairs and a reputation for being a bit ornery about traditional approaches to safety, I find myself debating this very topic with business executives on a regular basis. If we’re honest in our approach to each training opportunity, it's easy to identify when and how a "learning" event is appropriate, and when it will be a "training" exercise of little value. As safety professionals, we are obligated to be competent in this assessment and advice business leaders accordingly. Refusing to conduct a training session isn't always an option. But debating the relative merits of the training and offering more productive options is. It takes a little fortitude, and willingness to confront, but if we line up our arguments properly and remember our fundamental responsibility, we can direct the needed change you are advocating. On the other hand, it is also important that we take responsibility for the training we are asked to provide. As professionals, we need to develop more insightful learning events where there is a two way sharing of actionable information. We're experts in the stuff we know, but the people we train are experts in their own right. In most cases they know more about the intricacies of their work than we will ever know. Gaining understanding from that insight and organizing safety interventions (including training) accordingly is more important than we image. In the final analysis, the need for safety "training", "education" and "learning" isn't going away. It's up to our profession and the individual safety practitioners to make it meaningful, effective and valuable to the learners and business owners. Thank you for your thought provoking article. I've shared it with my staff and will make it the topic of our next "learning" event. Sincerely, Jeff Mather, CSP Access Safety, LLC Chris: A provocative and interesting read. I’m torn between wanting to praise your insight into a long standing problem in the safety profession, and wanting to defend the integrity of safety training. Both would be valid arguments. Perhaps that’s your point. As a career safety consultant, I’ve had more than my share of opportunities to experience both sides of this issue and everything in-between. In recent years, embolden by a few gray hairs and a reputation for being a bit ornery about traditional approaches to safety, I find myself debating this very topic with business executives on a regular basis. If we’re honest in our approach to each training opportunity, it’s easy to identify when and how a “learning” event is appropriate, and when it will be a “training” exercise of little value. As safety professionals, we are obligated to be competent in this assessment and advice business leaders accordingly. Refusing to conduct a training session isn’t always an option. But debating the relative merits of the training and offering more productive options is. It takes a little fortitude, and willingness to confront, but if we line up our arguments properly and remember our fundamental responsibility, we can direct the needed change you are advocating. On the other hand, it is also important that we take responsibility for the training we are asked to provide. As professionals, we need to develop more insightful learning events where there is a two way sharing of actionable information. We’re experts in the stuff we know, but the people we train are experts in their own right. In most cases they know more about the intricacies of their work than we will ever know. Gaining understanding from that insight and organizing safety interventions (including training) accordingly is more important than we image. In the final analysis, the need for safety “training”, “education” and “learning” isn’t going away. It’s up to our profession and the individual safety practitioners to make it meaningful, effective and valuable to the learners and business owners.

Thank you for your thought provoking article. I’ve shared it with my staff and will make it the topic of our next “learning” event.

Sincerely,

Jeff Mather, CSP
Access Safety, LLC

]]> By: Chris Goulart http://michigansafetynews.com/safety-myth-6-safety-training/330/comment-page-1#comment-90 Chris Goulart Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:35:04 +0000 http://michigansafetynews.com/?p=330#comment-90 Ethan, Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your perspective and thank you for the endorsement. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Chris Ethan,

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your perspective and thank you for the endorsement.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Chris

]]> By: Ethan Lightfoot http://michigansafetynews.com/safety-myth-6-safety-training/330/comment-page-1#comment-86 Ethan Lightfoot Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:40:22 +0000 http://michigansafetynews.com/?p=330#comment-86 My wife and I recently wrote an article for a local business publication saying (in 200-400 words) the same thing. Before you arbitrarily throw a bunch of time and money into "training" make sure that what is needed is "training". good Article Ethan My wife and I recently wrote an article for a local business publication saying (in 200-400 words) the same thing. Before you arbitrarily throw a bunch of time and money into “training” make sure that what is needed is “training”. good Article

Ethan

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