Health and Safety

Making training count

Recently, I was talking to a man, Dave, who had sat a External trainers are normally approved by an external body training course that he needed to successfully complete relevant to the type of training they are undertaking. Hopefully to be able to do his job. Doing the training wasn’t this is a good indication that they are capable, but that’s not a problem for him and always true. Ask your business contacts paying for it wasn’t a problem for who they use, check the Google his employer. Dave was looking forward to learning something How can Safewise reviews or Facebook posts. Check with your workers; ask if they enjoyed the new, which he was going to be help? course and what they learned. using in his everyday work life. The cost of training is high, so it

Unfortunately, the training We work with should be valuable to your organisation was not great. Dave passed the organisations that need and to your workers. Remember that course but didn’t feel that he more health and safety just passing a course doesn’t guarantee learned very much. The training was predominately completed with a video. This limited the knowledge, or more time, than they have in-house. competency. Real learning only starts when the training is put into practice. Continue to support your workers and opportunity for feedback and For more information, their development.  review. Dave didn’t feel like he check the website could ask questions when he was www.safewise.co.nz confused or not sure how to use the information in his particular situation. Tracey Murphy is the owner and

Training is vital if we want our workers to do the job safely, director of Safewise Limited, a efficiently and the way we want it done. Sometimes, training health and safety consultancy. She is done in-house and other times we have to pay for an expert. has more than 12 years’ experience It is not cheap, although it’s cheaper than having the job done working with organisations from badly, which may result in injury, damage or rework. How can we ensure that training is done well? In-house trainers should be people who are experienced in the field. many different industries. Tracey holds a Diploma in Health and Safety Management and a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety They may also hold qualifications. It’s not necessary for them and Health. She is a Graduate to have training qualifications, but they do need to be patient Member of New Zealand Institute of and able to communicate well with others. The best person at Safety Management and is on the the task is not always the best trainer. HASANZ register.

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Danielle L. Beston

Barrister At Law

Transport Specialist Work Licences Log Book & Driving Hours Nationwide Road User Charges

Contributor to New Zealand Trucking ‘LegalLines’ Column

Telephone: 64 9 379 7658 mobile: 021 326 642 danielle.beston@hobsonchambers.co.nz