EHS Training Courses For Work Environments

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.

The employees should be sensitized on how to maintain their safety while in their work places. This includes provision of safety materials by the employer. A good example would be the provision of life jackets for boat operators and helmets for construction workers. Workers should also be encouraged to report potential risks and involved in making decisions regarding them.

Newbies in any office are usually taken for inductions. However, they are mostly not educated on issues of health and safety. Only office protocols and etiquette are highlighted in such activities. The facilitators need to consider the risk assessment report. A check list of critical information needs to be conveyed to the new workers. Risk response protocols should also be stressed.

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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