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TRAINING TOOLBOX COMPLIANCE • LABELMASTER’S RHONDA JESSOP* ENCOURAGES COMPANIES TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE TRAINING PROVISION AND ENHANCE PROFITS AND SAFETY SHIPPING DANGEROUS GOODS (DG) and hazardous materials (hazmat) has become highly complex and increasingly challenging. The sheer number of items now classified as ‘hazardous’ makes the safe, secure movement of these goods more important than ever. But, when coupled with ever-evolving and expanding shipping regulations, ensuring DG shipping compliance becomes a moving target. In today’s demanding environment, organisations cannot afford to find themselves non-compliant and risking serious operational, financial and environmental ramifications as a result. This is why DG training is so crucial. Unfortunately, for many organisations, their
training is insufficient and ineffective. Addressing these issues requires a more strategic and engaging approach to training and learning – including the use of e-technology and virtual reality. TRAINING TODAY Training in the handling and shipping of DG is critical to ensuring a safe and compliant supply chain, which is why it’s mandated by global regulatory agencies. So, it’s no surprise that, according to Labelmaster’s 2019 Dangerous Goods Confidence Outlook survey, almost 76 per cent of DG professionals use training as one of their primary sources of
information and guidance to keep current with the latest DG regulations. But just because something is required, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s effectively implemented. In fact, 25 per cent of respondents to a 2018 Labelmaster survey felt their company’s DG training did NOT adequately prepare people within the organisation to comply with DG shipping regulations. One of the major barriers to effective DG training is that many organisations view it as simply a ‘necessary evil’. Consequently, a minimal effort is directed towards training - enough to satisfy regulatory requirements, and not much more. Another barrier is that many companies lack the necessary infrastructure to put forth value-added training that supports compliance across the supply chain in the first place. As a result, the training employees do receive can be ineffective and insufficient to add real business value or drive compliance success, leaving organisations vulnerable to putting their brand and customer relationships at risk. In fact, 15 per cent of survey respondents said “insufficient or ineffective training” is their greatest compliance challenge and 53 per cent ranked it in their top three. Therefore, it’s not surprising that, when asked how they would prioritise additional investment from senior leadership, 33 per cent of DG professionals surveyed said they would put more resources toward improving employee training. THE MODERN METHOD But reinventing employee training as a growth opportunity versus a box to be checked as ‘completed’ can be a challenge. The key to improving DG compliance training across the supply chain lies in creating impactful, engaging content presented on interactive, intuitive platforms. This makes learning easy and convenient, and adds real business value. One of the biggest assets an organisation can employ in the quest to improve the quality and interactivity of hazmat compliance training is an online e-learning platform.
HCB MONTHLY | APRIL 2020
