Health, Safety

1
Friday 25th March 2009 Training Needs Analysis
and the Virtual Classroom Bob Harris
Technical Director
Health, Safety Environmental Consultants
2
Safety Announcements

• Fire alarm procedures
• Smoking policy
• W.C. locations
• Mobile telephones please switch off or to silent

Health, Safety Environmental Consultants
3
Agenda

• Training and UK Legislation
• Training needs analysis
• Common successes and failures in TNA
• The virtual classroom
• Pros Cons of e-learning
• Summary
• Questions Answers

Health, Safety Environmental Consultants
4
AEC The Company Formed in 1997 Offices in
Trafford Park, Liverpool Scotland Independent
environmental consultant UKAS accredited
In-house laboratory Health, Safety and
Environmental Consultants Safety training
Asbestos Management Specialists UK Worldwide 60
consultants
Health, Safety Environmental Consultants
5
Training Services

• Asbestos proficiency training courses (BOHS
  accredited)
• Asbestos awareness training (bespoke training)
• General Health Safety training (including IOSH
  courses)
• Legionella awareness
• Noise at work
• Etc.
• E-learning services

Health, Safety Environmental Consultants
6
Training U.K. Legislation

• The basic Implicit HS standards for
  training are set by the Health and Safety at Work
  Act 1974.
• The Act sets out in Section 2(2)c the requirement
  for the employer to provide suitable and
  sufficient Information, Instruction and Training
  to his employees to enable them to undertake
  their work safely.
• This is supported with specific training
  requirements within safety regulation, Approved
  codes of practice and guidance issued by the HSE

7
Legislative requirements for training

• This still leaves responsibility with the
  employer to assess and deliver the required level
  and depth of training
• Regulations ACoPs often only detail elements
  that should be included if appropriate.
• Reference is made to generally acceptable
  standards and qualifications for specific
  roles/tasks
• There is still a role for the employer to assess
  adequacy of training provided and competence to
  perform a task
• Training does NOT automatically equal competence

8
Health Safety Legislation in the UK
Health Safety at Work Act
Health Safety Regulations CAR, COSHH, RIDDOR etc
ACOPs
Guidance
9
What is a Training Needs Analysis?

• Tool used to evaluate any gap between the skills
  your business needs and those its employees have.
• Can be complex
• Is meant to be flexible and can apply at high or
  low level
• Can result in primary and secondary objectives

10
Overall Approach to Training

• TNA is not the complete training package, it is a
  tool used as part of an organisations overall
  approach to implementing appropriate and
  effective training.

11
TNAs the overall approach to training

• Draft training policy
• Identify training needs (TNA)
• Choose training provider
• Deliver training
• Check training delivery
• Keep records
• Consolidation of skills and knowledge
• Monitor, audit and review

12
Scope of TNA

• Depends on organisation roles within it
• Can be simple or extremely complex
• Covers safety skills, and soft skills
• Involved TNAs could include the following to
  identify organisation individuals needs
• Observation
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Focus groups

13
Basic Training Needs Analysis
Step 1 Gap Analysis
Step 2 Identify Problems Opportunities
Step 3 Evaluate current training
Step 4 Provide training Evaluate
14
Step 1 GAP Analysis

• Assess current skills vs skills you need
• Which staff require training?
• What is their experience/education levels?
• Have they had previous training is it adequate?
• Is there legislation that effects training
  requirements?
• What will the training accomplish?

15
Step 2 Identify Causes / Problems

• Accept that it is unlikely that training will
  immediately solve all training needs need to
  prioritise
• Does the need apply to all employees, groups, or
  just individuals (training matrix approach)
• Does the training require skills that the trainee
  will find difficult to learn?
• Is there a legislative requirement?

16
Step 3 Evaluation

• Prepare the training plan
• Assess your current training arrangements
• Are current training arrangements adequate
• Internal provision
• External provision
• Review and adapt your training arrangements to
  meet your training needs

17
Step 4 Provide the Training

• Provide the training
• Reinforce with practice, audit and assessment as
  necessary
• Review effectiveness by repeating the 4 steps
  recommended annually

18
Training Summary of key requirements

• PLAN
• IMPLEMENT
• EVALUATE

19
Example - Basic TNAMixer Vessel assistant
TRAINING ELEMENT CURRENT STANDARD REQUIRED STANDARD IMPORTANCE
Site safety induction Completed (100) Completed (100) HIGH
SWP Using mixing vessel T13 Incomplete (70) Still undergoing site training assessment Completed (100) HIGH
PPE RPE Incomplete (80) RPE training not completed Completed (100) HIGH
COSHH procedures (basic) Completed (100) Completed (100) HIGH
COSHH procedures (advanced) Not started (0) Needed for progress to operator level Completed (100) LOW
Emergency Response procedures Incomplete (50) Completed (100) HIGH
20
TNA Training Delivery

• People learn in different ways
• The TNA should determine which way will be the
  best
• Are you trying to deliver
• Skill
• Competency
• Awareness
• Behaviour
• Development
• Select the right medium to deliver the required
  training goal

21
TNAs Safety

• Regulatory requirements
• Risk assessments
• Accidents D.O. statistics
• Procedural training
• Awareness training
• Skills training

22
Common TNA faults

• Approach it from the wrong direction
• Make the TNA fit the historic training package
• Blinkered approach to training
• Ignore risk assessments and accident stats
• Forgetting the managers supervisors
• Lack of involvement of employees, representatives
  etc.
• Lack of review / update
• Lack of knowledge of TNA requirements and
  Training solutions

23
The Virtual Classroom

• This is often referred to as e-learning or
  web-based training
• It is now a sophisticated learning forum
• Can be web based or held on intranet systems
• Massive range of courses are available
• Generic and tailored courses are available

24
E-learning courses

• Course content is variable
• Can be very simplistic on low level awareness
  courses
• Can incorporate very sophisticated systems
• Assessments and testing packages
• Video footage
• Interactive walk-throughs of buildings and
  processes
• On-line interaction with tutors, colleagues
  work groups
• Web-cam voice links

25
Learning Management Systems

• Ability to track individuals performance on line
• Track group performance
• Interpret test assessment results
• Print reports keep records
• Prompt training due dates
• Email notification of training activity
• Upload storage of classroom results
  information
• Viewable anywhere at any time

26
E-Learning PROs

• Can be very cost effective compared with
  classroom training
• Can learn where and when it is convenient
• Individuals can learn at their own pace
• Can include some interaction with trainers
• Can involve testing and assessment
• Can be used with classroom training to reduce
  overall costs
• Is good for theoretical and awareness level
  training
• Can incorporate media such as video, photographs,
  interactive tools etc.
• Can be tailored to specific needs

27
E-Learning CONs

• Need to be computer literate
• Need reading language skills
• Need a computer
• Who sat the course?
• Can just flick through not absorb
• People dont do the course on time
• Often generic and not relevant to an
  organisations specific needs
• No forum for interaction with trainer
• Often no method of assessment or test
• Very poor at passing on practical skills

28
E-Recommendations

• Make sure the course is applicable bespoke it!
• Try it out before committing
• It wont run on my computer!
• Control who completes the course when
• Make sure the courses are completed chase up
• Assess whether the training worked
• Carry out a satisfaction survey
• Keep records / confirmation of training

29
SUMMARY

• TNA is important, incorporate it into your
  training, risk assessment management strategy
• Approach it from several directions to obtain the
  best results involve people
• Remember to review regularly
• The Virtual classroom is here to stay but be
  aware of its shortcomings
• Is not the panacea for training but can be
  effective when mixed with classroom and practical
  training

30
Thank you Any Questions?