Keeping your employees safe should be at the top of your priorities list. A big part of keeping them safe is properly educating them on safety practices. This is best done in the actual area that the safety protocols are to be used. Here are some key tips that you’ll want to implement when teaching employee safety around some dangerous equipment.
Always Have Them Wearing Necessary PPE
We can’t stress enough the importance of having employees wearing the proper PPE during training. The training instructors should be wearing these pieces of equipment, providing an example of the best full face respirator for each employee. Having employees suit up in the right safety gear for each piece of equipment they are learning about is a great way to start a safety habit. Each time that they go back to that piece of equipment, they will know what PPE they need to wear to be safe.
Set a Proximity Line
Whether you’re training a group of employees or just one at a time, it’s important to start by establishing a proximity line. This is an area where the employee will be expected to stand while you explain the operation of the equipment. The proximity between the piece of equipment and the employee in training will vary depending on the task. For example, the proximity line for a burner service is going to be larger than one for a drilling service where the danger level is less.
Have an Instruction Guide With Necessary Warnings Posted
As employees learn new things, it can be difficult for them to remember every little step. Unfortunately, with dangerous equipment, there is no margin for error. For this reason, it’s essential that you place a poster at the site of the machine. This poster should list the instructional steps to operate the piece of equipment and alert the user with warnings about dangerous hazards. This will help to remind employees about the proper use of the equipment.
Be Serious
Your employees are going to read your body language and tone to determine whether or not something is serious. When you come across with a serious tone, they listen and take note. If you come across as joking or casual, they don’t consider the equipment overly dangerous. Remember that you set the tone throughout the training session.
When it comes to teaching safety to your employees regarding dangerous workplace equipment, you should have a plan. The above are four necessary components that you’ll want to include in your plan. Having these at the top of your mind will help to ensure that you portray the information that you intend to.
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. You can connect with Anica on Twitter @AnicaOaks.
