What determines the need for safety training, and how do I identify these needs?

Safety training does not simply involve inviting a group of workers to a meeting on the safety topic of the month. It involves planning, preparation, and evaluation. But, even before you start planning, you need to do some preliminary legwork to determine if training is the appropriate organizational response. Before you commit to a training program, analyze organizational needs and specific problems, and review regulatory training requirements.

Analysts use surveys, interviews, observations, etc. to determine training needs. Managers, supervisors, and workers are asked about injuries, incidents of property damage, near misses, product quality, production efficiency, and whatever else could point to areas where training or engineering/administrative controls are needed.