How to Maximize the Benefits of your Health and Safety Training
March 15, 2024
Training is an investment. As with any investment, you’ll want to see a return. However, when it comes to health and safety training, sometimes it seems the training is all but forgotten once workers are back on the job. To maximize the ROI (return on investment) of health and safety training, concepts and procedures need to be regularly reinforced.
How to Maximize ROI in Training To ensure that the training you’re providing has a positive ROI, it must be regularly reinforced in the workplace. To reinforce training, try to think beyond reminders. Reminders may seem helpful, but workers can become dependent on them. Reminders are passive, whereas reinforcement is active. |
Measuring Return on InvestmentTo measure the ROI of a training program, use this formula: ( (Monetary benefits – Training Costs) / Training Costs) x 100 As an example, an employee takes training that costs $250. Using what they learned, that worker can save the company $300 by working more safely and efficiently. (300 – 250) / 250 = 0.2 0.2 x 100 = 20% This employee’s training resulted in a positive ROI of 20%. |
How to Combat Burnout in the Workplace
February 23, 2024
Think of a workplace hazard. What comes to mind? Rarely does anyone consider burnout a hazard. However, burnout may cause reduced productivity, increased errors, susceptibility to illness, and even anxiety and/or depression.
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. Knowing the signs and mitigating the effects help combat burnout. In this article we cover: |
What is Burnout?Burnout is a chronic state of stress. Constantly working long hours, in high-stress, high-pressure settings, and/or managing a heavy workload are contributing factors. More than just being tired after a long day at work, Psychology Today defines burnout as: “A state of chronic stress resulting in:
Learn to spot the signs of burnout. Check out our Psychological Health and Safety eLearning Module! |
Fire is a risk in all workplaces. Are you prepared?
February 15, 2024
Fire is a risk in all workplaces. Some workplaces are at higher risk than others. Failure to have a fire safety plan in place could lead to increased damages, injuries, loss of inventory, and even fatality. To mitigate the risk, you must have an emergency response plan in place, run drills, teach employees how to use fire extinguishers, and continually review and update your fire safety program.
In this article we cover: |
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Is Your Office Desk Making You Get Sick?
February 4, 2024
Most of us clean at home. Yet, there are a surprising number of workers who admit to never cleaning their desks. Workers sometimes spend more time at their desks than they do in their homes, so keeping their desks clean just makes sense! Keeping workstations clean will also help stop the spread of cold, flu, and COVID-19 viruses.
By the NumbersThe average desk is 400 times dirtier than a toilet seat. And, if that doesn’t gross you out, how about this? Some workers eat at their desks and many of those don’t clean their desks beforehand. To state the obvious, that’s the equivalent of eating your sandwich off a toilet seat. Keeping your desk clean can also help reduce the risk of contracting colds, flu, and COVID-19 viruses. If you weren’t sold on desk hygiene before, we are betting you are now.
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Is Your JHSC Effective and Efficient?
January 16, 2024
Having an effective Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) can have a positive impact on your organization’s bottom line.
Is your JHSC part of your organization’s strategic plan for meeting goals and objectives? If it’s not, it should be! In this article, we cover: |
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Stay safe while working outdoors in the Canadian winter
January 1, 2024
Many people who live in Canada pride themselves on their ability to make it through our notorious Canadian winters. The winter season is known for being cold and harsh. They can even be downright dangerous! For some, winter safety is about more than just warming up the car and buying the warmest parka – some Canadians work outdoors, and their work doesn’t stop just because it’s snowing.
For the many people who work outdoors over the Canadian winter, the season represents a time of heightened awareness and hyper-vigilance, because working in extreme freezing temperatures is hazardous. Risks include frostbite, windburn, dehydration, and hypothermia. |
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There is no better way to enter 2024 than by setting safety intentions for the New Year!
December 21, 2022
2023 went by so fast, that it’s hard to imagine it’s already that time again when we set organizational safety intentions aimed at helping us be the best we can be in 2024. At MidSouthWest Safety Training and Consulting, we believe that setting safety intentions sets the tone for the entire year. Why set safety resolutions?
Not sure where to start? Check out this article for our safety intentions for 2024. |
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A Train the Trainer Program Turns Employees into In-House Trainers!
December 1, 2023
A Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program has the power to transform your current health and safety training program. You’ll benefit from all of those investment dollars you’ve spent training seasoned employees and from the knowledge and expertise they gained because a TTT program turns employees into in-house trainers!
In this article we review: |
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Planning a safe and fun holiday party this season
November 13, 2023
The holiday season is fast approaching. Unlike the previous few years when the pandemic made holiday gatherings challenging, employees and employers alike are excited and eagerly awaiting their company holiday parties. The merriment, the food, the good times, and the opportunity to let loose are just some of the reasons that people look forward to their holiday work parties. However, that feeling of joy and celebration can quickly be marred if you don’t plan for a safe celebration.
What Could Go Wrong? There’s a saying that goes, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” This certainly applies to holiday parties. It’s best to consider all of the things that could go wrong, and then come up with a plan to mitigate each risk and hazard. It’s better to have a plan that you don’t use than to find yourself in a situation with no plan at all. In this article, we highlight a few key points: |
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Supervisors require additional Health and Safety Training in Ontario Workplaces
November 6, 2023
Supervisors have extra responsibilities in the workplace. This added responsibility means that supervisors require further job training, including additional health and safety training, in addition to the training that all workers in Ontario require.
In this article, we provide an overview of: |
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Are you ready for a Ministry inspection blitz?
October 16, 2023
The thought of a surprise visit from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) can be stressful or catch people off-guard. But, since the MLITSD and the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) share the common goal of keeping workplaces safe and healthy, a visit from the MLITSD shouldn’t be a source of concern.
One of the ways that the MLITSD helps organizations work toward safety objectives is to perform both scheduled and unscheduled inspections. Each year, the MLITSD schedules compliance initiatives and/or campaigns in specific sectors to achieve two primary goals:
Whether you call them campaigns, initiatives, or simply “blitzes,” knowing what’s coming up is the best way to proactively prepare for an unscheduled inspection. While the focus of campaigns and initiatives is announced ahead of time, no notice is given for surprise inspections. |
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