Yearly minimum budget for training provided to employees?

[Benjamin28]

Re: Training provided to employees

I think the consensus is that training is situational and should be budgeted for depending on compentency criteria.

For example, we recently had to develop measurement uncertainty budgets for our in-house calibrations. No training was provided, it was left to the employeee to take the inititiative to learn through research and application. An activity such as this should be provided training if you want to achieve good results within a reasonable period of time.

For areas where the company is put at risk, legally, or to product quality, all means should be employed to ensure competency is acceptable, and certainly that all requirements, legal or otherwise are met.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Re: Training provided to employees

Good points from Dirk and Benjamin.

Let's be cautious and not go after a fly with a sledge hammer. However, there are a couple of things I want to share with you.

1. I have a book titled Occupational Safety And Health (3rd ed). It's 700 pages.
2. I would find it a little hard to know what to train people on based only on a 700 page book.

I advised to seek out a 10-hour OSHA card training because it can help to prioritize the training. I expect it would help you to understand what's needed and give some clue about how to present it. This training might be free or very low cost through the Dept of Labor--check it out.

In the end we shouldn't fool around with training in Safety. It's one chance we get to defend ourselves in the due diligence question, which can save a whole lot of heartache.

Please keep in mind I am referring to OSHA, not ISO 18001 auditing. An OSHA visit would be triggered by mishaps over a certain threshold. Avoiding that if you can is a very good thing. Showing you personally did what you could to avoid mishap can one day save your rear.

 

[ralphsulser]

Re: Training provided to employees

When I was in Ohio during the early 90s, there was a state safety agency available to come visit ytour facility and provide free consulting and training.
The man that came to our plant gave us a lot of OSHA guides, and did some on site training. Check with you state's safety agencies and maybe you can find a similar resource for free training. We are already funding the agencies if we use them or not.

 

[juliov]

Re: Training provided to employees

Great input to this very important topic the consensus appears to be that when legal risk issues can be complied with training then by all means TM should support training alternatives. In my experience I have found that training allows the trained employee to feel more at ease during the activities asked to perform and become more efficient and competent, defininetely feel supported by the people he counts on which is TM. This is a topic that pertains also to customer satisfaction in this case internal, and also can affect external customer satisfaction, it is a win-win for the org.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Re: Training provided to employees

Great input to this very important topic the consensus appears to be that when legal risk issues can be complied with training then by all means TM should support training alternatives. In my experience I have found that training allows the trained employee to feel more at ease during the activities asked to perform and become more efficient and competent, defininetely feel supported by the people he counts on which is TM. This is a topic that pertains also to customer satisfaction in this case internal, and also can affect external customer satisfaction, it is a win-win for the org.

You clearly get the big picture. So, Ralph's advice was very good. Chances are there is free basic safety training available to your people. Now watch out! The training may call out to use some safety gear the management has not yet seen fit to buy...

 

[Randy]

It ain't that easy guys.....training is relevant to applicable legal requirements, and legal requirments will depend upon hazards, processes, equipment, and many other factors in the workplace. It is the basic stuff that will bite ya, it's the stuff you'd never figure.

For instance HAZWOPER training to 29CFR1910.120. Did you know that not just anyone can give it? Of course you probably did. But did you know that it is the "employer" that must certify that;
1. the instructor have the necessary competencies for the specific traing
provided
2. the training facility meets the employers requirements
3. the training matches what the employee's job requires (there is more than
1 type of training detailed in the regulation and the employer has to figure
which goes to who)

And a wee bit more.

Then there is specific training on hand tools, air powered tools, electric powered tools, PPE, hazard communication, EAP's, forklifts, hoists & cranes, scaffolding, confined space, asbestos, lead, cadmium, BBP/HIV-HPV, hazardous energy control, low-voltage electrical, high-voltage electrical, elevated work, trenching & shoring, ergonomics, compressed gasses, welding, so on and so forth.

This goes way beyond the basic.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Randy, you're going to scare us into believing we actually need a program!

You're right, of course. It's why I'm applying pressure to get the OSHA 30 hour card, or 10 hour card at minimum. It would help show just how big this subject is.

Lots of people hand employees a little booklet and say "there's your training". Been there, seen that...

 

[vanputten]

To re-emphasie my point, I suggest that first you budget to determine competency needs. Any organization must first spend resources to determine what is the needed competency. After this is determined, then one can make a plan to fulfill the needed competency.

If needed competency is not determined first, then make a big bullseye with different types of "training" listed on it. Start throwing darts at the bullseye to determine what kind of training you will provide, if any.

Determining needs costs money too. A 700 page book or a 10 hour class may or may not allow you to determine the needed competency.

Regards,

Dirk

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

What is your input about top management not providing or backing employee training, should top management have at least a yearly minimum budget for training employees?

Good advice has been provided already, but I still feel like jumping in...

The proper competence is obviously one of the resources management is required to ensure the availability of (clause 5.1e), but honestly: If they need a standard to tell them that...? Well, there is no requirement to stay in business either...

/Claes

 

[Randy]

A 700 page book or a 10 hour class may or may not allow you to determine the needed competency.

Regards,

Dirk

All a 700 page book will guarantee is the need for manual materials handling training