6 minute read
SAW SHOP WHY WE TRAIN
"Why do I need to know this?"
By Greg Helton, Chainsaw & Logging Safety Trainer
That was the question I remember asking while I was in school. Many subjects we studied did not seem relevant to everyday life, at least while in school. After graduating and entering the workforce, (and life in general), I realized there was a lot more information I wished I had listened to. Sometimes that same question is asked on the job. "Why are we here?" "Why do I need training?" These questions may not be asked verbally, but the look on some employees' faces tells all. So, let's talk a little about why we train.
The Importance of Training
Why is it important to train? Training gives employees the knowledge to do the tasks they are given. Before we are given a driver's license, we must complete a training course and demonstrate our ability to drive. It would be a scary thought if a teenager was given the authority to drive on the road but had never driven a vehicle before, although I do wonder about some drivers. New employees may begin with little knowledge of the tasks they will be given.
Training will give them that knowledge and prepare them for the task. Seasoned employees can benefit from refresher training to help keep them focused and not become complacent. It also helps to identify and correct bad habits.
Sometimes we just need a little reminder
Training also gives the employee the tools needed when faced with opposition. Take our great Military, for example, they train continuously. They prepare for every possible scenario so that when they are called to action, they know exactly what to do. They practice over and over until it becomes muscle memory. By training our employees, we are preparing them to face the most common issues that they may face with a particular task. Although it is very difficult to prepare them for every opposition they may see, with proper training, they will be able to safely mitigate the hazard with what tools they have been given.
What Does OSHA Say About Training?
Not only is training important, but it is also required. The 1910.266 Standard on Logging has a complete section dealing with training. OSHA's training standard for all industries can be summed up this way:
• Each employee must be trained in the tasks, situations, and tools they will use on the job.
• This training must be provided by a qualified person in a manner (e.g., language and vocabulary) the employee best understands.
• Training must be performed as often as required for safe operations.
• Training must be documented and stored for a period of time.
Anytime an employee is introduced to a new task or equipment, they should receive training. If there has been an unsafe performance, they should receive training. Training should be conducted as soon as possible and by a qualified person. One very important requirement is that the training be documented and stored. In the event of an accident, OSHA will request documentation that shows that employees had been properly trained to perform their duties.
The Moral and Ethical Responsibilities of the Employer
It is the duty of the employer to conform to the accepted standards of conduct when it comes to training.
It is required by OSHA that employees are to be properly trained. Employers have an ethical duty to ensure that each employee has been given the training they need to safely perform their job.
Employers also have a moral responsibility to train their employees, it is the right thing to do.
Employers should desire that each employee makes it home to their family at the end of the day. Proper training can help ensure that happens.
The Moral and Ethical Responsibilities of the Employee
While the employer has a moral and ethical responsibility to provide employees with the appropriate training, employees also have responsibilities. It is the employee's responsibility to help the company succeed. Participating in training and learning ways to better their job will help keep them safer and help the company succeed. We shouldn't become narrow-minded to think, "I am only here to make money!" That is a large part of it, but if we are not willing to help the company succeed, there won't be a company to pay us.
The other responsibility an employee has is to the ones waiting on them at home. I remember a logger telling the group during training, "I have little ones at home that depend on me. If I refuse to wear my PPE and do things safely, I am being selfish." He realized the moral and ethical responsibilities that he had to his family.
The Impact of Training
During a group training a few weeks ago, I came across a gentleman who had received training from a guy who had received training from my dad, Dennis Helton, several years ago. It made me think about how many people have been impacted by the chainsaw training that has been done. Bryan Wagner has trained for Forestry Mutual since 1996. Over the years, he had the opportunity to be in front of hundreds of employees. Since I started training in 2008, I can't count the number of employees I have worked with.
Shawn Fulks has just started training in the last few years and has already trained many employees. We may never know the entire impact that the four of us have had by providing training. However, the number of claims may be an indicator of the impact. For example, the reported claims data shows a 70% reduction in claims in certain cause codes in the first five years of starting the Logger Training Program. That's a great impact!
Although the numbers are great to look at, the best way I see the impact of training is from the trainee's response. It is very satisfying to have someone come up after training, and thank you for showing them a safer way to do their job. When they really get it and see the benefit of the training they were given, that makes it worth all the effort. The goal of education is understanding; the goal of training is performance. So, let's continue to train with the intent to make an impact!
