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#1 Posted : 25 September 2007 14:14:00(UTC)
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Posted By DavidW
I've been doing some consultancy work in a large, modern office block for some time now and have made some good progress. HOWEVER, I need to find ways to get across training messages and getting staff to turn up to formal training has proved almost impossible. I've tried the "It's a legal requirement" argument but it cuts little ice. How do others manage safety in a low risk environment such as this? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who works in this environment as to how you get information such as fire safety, manual handling etc across.

Thanks
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#2 Posted : 25 September 2007 14:25:00(UTC)
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Posted By Seamus O Sullivan
hi David

Could you let their manager organise who comes to what course etc,( give you their names etc) then if their boss tells them you must go on the course, they may go.

Seamus

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#3 Posted : 25 September 2007 14:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By Richie
How about:

Carrot:
Normal leavoing time = 5 pm;
Training starts = 3.30 pm,
Training finishes = 4.30 pm,
Therefore Half hour early chop.

This works for me.


Stick: Tie in satisfactory completion of the training to their annual performance related pay.

Always be confident your training is worthwhile and have the stats to back it up. Identify a link between workplaces with habitual poor attendance having higher ill health/accident stats than those with satisfactory attendance - then present to the board. Should concentrate senior management minds when they realise how much lost productivity non attendance is costing them. If you cannot find a link, question if the training you are providing is targetted correctly. Could be non-office activity training or even fitness facilities could offer greater worker wellness.

Making sure line managers know that workplaces with less-trained personnel are higher risk, and therefore will inevitably receive more 'safety advisory visits' usually encourages LMs to ensure their workforce turns up.

Very much agree with previous respondee concerning using line management as a conduit to ensure attendance.


Richie
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#4 Posted : 25 September 2007 15:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kieran J Duignan
Hello David

Perhaps an important part of the answer lies in the way you phrase your question:
'How do others manage safety in a low risk environment such as this?'

On what evidence do you base your use of the expression 'low risk'?

The truth is a bit like a serious road accident. The likelihood of an incident is very low but the consequences can be severely disabling and very, very painful for many years.

When you have the information required to inform them accurately about the risks to all users of display screen equipment, you'll have a host of new ways available for communicating it.

Good places to start your search are the discussion forums of the societies of ergonomists in the U.K. Australia and Canada.
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#5 Posted : 25 September 2007 15:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian Bruce
Sometimes I have found similar problems and on rooting a little further have discovered that it's not always apathy!

Sometimes it can be that key people, especially managers, are very busy just keeping their heads above water and can't see an opportunity to get to training events. In these cases, the least important things to them (and usually, this will be safety, as there is no immediate consequence) will be put on the back burner.

I have used ditance learning quite effectively in such cases. Producing learning material and validation tests etc that are moderated by me and once completed held within their HR files.

Seems to work and the culture has moved forward as a result.
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