From Knowing to Doing: Achieving Safety Excellence Available to Purchase

Companies spend a great amount of money and time teaching their employees about wearing personal protective equipment and following safe operating procedures. So why is it that employees don't apply their knowledge of safe operating procedures and do not utilize their personal protective equipment?

Our research shows that there are two primary causes of this breakdown in safety:

1. boring and inadequate training

2. unsafe attitudes and behaviors.

Boring and inadequate training can be characterized by a supervisor showing an old lockout/tagout video and having attendees sign the attendance sheet as they leave. Here is what's wrong with this approach:

1. old and outdated videos are boring

2. nothing is done to involve the audience

3. no exercises are used

4. case studies are not utilized

5. no time is allowed for practice and feedback

6. no interactive problem solving process is involved.

By contrast, enlightened companies use a variety of stimulating and interesting approaches to produce more effective training. Here are some tips to get you started on the road from knowing to doing.

1. Use a variety of visual aids

   • current videos

   • flip charts

   • slide presentations

   • overheads

2. Involve the audience

   • use problem solving processes.

   • use case studies.

   • use exercises

   • use practice and feedback.

3. Have a knowledgeable operator demonstrate how the specific training can be applied at your site.

This approach is highly effective, easy to implement and produces a significantly higher retention than the "watch the video and sign the sheet" method. There is an old axiom that states:

• What I hear I forget.

• What I see I remember.

• What I do I own.

The second step in the "Knowing to Doing" process is more difficult because it involves changing unsafe attitudes and behavior which is a major cultural issue.