Transfer of Training – From the Classroom to the Trenches

One morning while getting ready for an excavation safety class, I walked past some guys who were busy getting their coffee and donuts and talking shop. One man said something to the effect of

“Nobody wants anybody to get hurt. But when you have deadlines to meet, jobs to finish, and work that just has to get done, sometimes you have to take chances”.

I categorically reject everything that was stated or implied in that statement, but at the same time, I find in that sentiment the motivation to continue to do all I can to provide motivational training that inspires others to work safely. I love to show how that we are a better organization and are more productive when we do our work safely.

Why isn’t this obvious to people? Why do so many believe that they don’t have time to plan, or don’t have time or resources to work safely?

I believe the answer is in education. There is a need to be informed.

Studies show that excavation work is one of the most hazardous types of work done in the construction industry. Accidents in excavation work occur more frequently than accidents in construction in general. Considering this, the issue isn’t that someone can’t afford to work safely; the reality is that they can’t afford to work unsafely. They just don’t know it. And that is where the matter of education comes into the picture.

When conducting safety training we are usually covering knowledge, skills, and attitude. Knowledge is information. For example, knowing the regulations such as when to use a protective system in an excavation or knowing what the requirements are pertaining to access and egress.

Skills are what we can do. For example, being able to classify the soil is a skill or being able to utilize soil classification information in protective system selection decisions.

Attitude can be defined in different ways depending on context. For me it means using what we know, and using what we can do to work safely each and every day because there is never an OK time when we can place a worker’s life at risk.

Taking what we learn in the classroom and applying it to the jobsite is called “Transfer of Training”. ?The ultimate measure of the effectiveness of training lies in the ability of the participants to take what they learn and use it back on the job. If participants are not going to be expected to take what is learned and use it back on the job, then we need to take a serious look at WHY they are in the classroom.

Transfer of attitude from the classroom to the jobsite is equally important. Personally I take the position that using our knowledge and using our skills each and every day to make sure the work is done safely is the correct attitude. It means never skipping a safety step. It means never leaving anything to chance, because no worker deserves that. It means putting the health and safety of each individual on the job ahead of any deadline.

Whether it is in the category of knowledge, skill, or attitude, or maybe a combination of each, the ability to demonstrate leadership and problem solving on the jobsite with the goal of getting the work done safely is not emphasized enough. Leadership and problem solving mean getting it done with the right priorities.

We are never wrong when we protect life and health in the course of getting our work done. We are never right if we ignore life and heath in pursuit of a goal or a deadline. Therefore, we should never take chances. It is not worth the cost.