Importance Of EHS Training Courses In The Workplace

By Christine Wallace


The work place can be a time bomb waiting to erupt with accidents and horrific injuries. However, EHS training courses have always been seen as a waste of company time and resources. An investment that bears no financial returns. Thus company managers used to shy away from this issue. Strange, considering lost working hours from accidents are seen as a hindrance to company performance.

Employers are gradually realizing that they have a lot to gain from their employees taking these courses. It has come to their attention that it can decrease injuries related leaves thereby increase working hours. Company funding spent on health insurance premiums can decrease rapidly. Furthermore, the number of law suits and claims for compensation from work injuries can highly reduce.

Companies must conduct a full detailed risk assessment of their work places before they establish health and safety protocols. This involves assessing each and every machinery and working conditions experienced by the workers. A report can then be developed which would address measures to mitigate prevailing risks. Protocols can also be integrated into the current organization structure.

Awareness needs to be created among employees on the need for safety at the work place. They should also be provided safety equipment by their employers. Examples of these include helmets for construction workers and life jackets for boat crews. A system for reporting potential risks also ought to be developed with the participation of the employees.

New employees are usually taken through inductions with a list of topics to cover by the facilitator. Some of these topics involve how salaries are paid, office chain of command and etiquette. These are just not enough. With the risk assessment report in mind, the facilitator should take the new staff through a check list concerning EHS and how to deal with arising issues.

There is also a need to target existing employees in a working environment. This can be achieved by frequently putting them through trainings and workshops regarding EHS. However, companies would find this expensive as consultants do not come cheap. The best option is therefore to train a few employees that would come back and become safety ambassadors to the rest of the team.

A database of identified and reported issues that pose a risk to workers should be established. This will help in development of monthly reports that can be circulated within the work place. Such reports play a major role in tracking progress of health and safety risk control at work. It would also demonstrate consideration for worker welfare which may boost performance.

The safety of employees should be of importance at the work place. Workers appreciate employers who take concern over their wellbeing. This enhances trust which builds positive energy at the work place, boosts company performance and increases profits. It is therefore evident that the long term benefits of investing in EHS training outweigh the potential risk posed by safety ignorance among workers.




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