Repeat Training Failures = Big OHSA Fines
If you follow OSHA reports, you know that failing to train workers in safety procedures is a common violation that results in stiff financial penalties. (Not to mention the steep costs that come with worker injuries and resulting litigation.)
Just last year, a follow-up OSHA inspection at a glass manufacturer found that the company continued to neglect its obligation to train workers in machine safety procedures, resulting in repeat violations and proposed penalties of $145,415.
What an unnecessary and unconscionable waste! When companies fail to respond to safety audits, they not only put their workers in harm’s way, they end up throwing away money that could be used to improve the business, such as maintenance, new equipment, marketing, and sales.
Training is Fast, Flexible, and Inexpensive
Sure it’s embarrassing when you get audited and dinged on something as basic as safety training, but OSHA is completely clear on their expectations. “Workers must be trained in specific safety procedures for each machine they operate or service,” stated the OSHA Area Director who oversaw the glass manufacturer case above. No wiggle room there!
Effective safety training is the fastest, most flexible, and least expensive response to audit findings. No new equipment to buy. No engineering fix to design and install. In most cases, you can simply rely on your current SOPs to structure the training.
Training, Done Right, WORKS
“Done right” means NOT filling a room with people, showing a funny cartoon and then boring them to death with 20 text-filled Powerpoint slides. I see this all the time and nobody remembers any of it. (Well, if the cartoon was funny, they might remember that.)
Trust me, there are better, more effective ways to use training to respond to audit findings.
Three Maverick Tools that Help You Respond to Incidents and Audits
There are three tools in particular that graduates of my Train-the-Safety-Trainer program find invaluable when responding to incidents and audits, especially if they suspect there will be a follow-up inspection.
Skills Assessment Matrix - This exercise helps you zero in on specific safety skills and who really needs them. Pinpointing these reduces the content you need to teach and the number of trainees being taught, which allows for a quicker, more targeted response.
Skills Breakdown Sheet - This tool helps you identify the specific safety steps and key points that people are not performing correctly. Again, this reduces the amount of content to teach and prevents “fire-hosing” trainees with more information than they can learn and remember.
Sure-Fire Instruction - This simple and powerful method helps you deliver demonstrations in a way that allows trainees to actually remember and apply what you taught them. Sure-fire helps you make sure that trainees can, and will, act safely.
These three tools, and much more, are all part of my Maverick Train-the-Safety-Trainer program. When you show a follow-up auditor how you’ve used our tools to address their initial findings, you’ll have proof that you have effectively addressed all their concerns in compliance with their training standard, OSHA 3842. Win-win!
So, how much does my program cost? A tiny fraction of an OSHA fine.
Call or email me today and let’s chat.
~ Todd
PS … If you want to see my Sure-Fire Instruction Method in action, I’ll be presenting it at GOSH 2025 in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday, March 5th at 8:30 a.m. Hope to see you there!
