Health and Safety Trainers

Don’t forget the training skills….
Dear Donna

Mike and Peter’s comment make great sense. However, looking for really good train-the-trainer services in relation to Health and Safety training is likely to be far more challenging than simply resourcing some H&S training from a NEBOSH/IOSH recognised external vendor.

Don’t forget that you are essentially looking for a two-part service:

1) Training in the subject matter

2) Best practice training in how to deliver the training.

My own exposure to Health and Safety training (as a learner) suggests that the training skills of some professional H&S trainers can leave a lot to be desired. To an extent this is understandable. Too many employers carry out training in H&S simply so they can prove that they have carried out H&S training! In other words they are simply ticking legislative boxes at the lowest possible cost.

There seems to be an acceptance that H&S training should inevitably be a dull and painful experience for the learner. There even seems to be a school of thought which says the more it hurts the better it is!

All too often H&S training consists of far too much lecture-centred presentation and demonstration and not nearly enough learner centred activity. If you are lucky enough to secure the services of an amusing and charismatic trainer then they can make this poor practice bearable, but these traits are personal and hence strictly non-transferable to third parties.

Don’t forget that the faulty underlying approaches are very likely to assimilated and then replicated by your client’s training personnel. If they are training professionals then they could make improvements, but all too often H&S training is actually delivered by line managers and supervisors. Is this the case for your client?

To my knowledge neither NEBOSH nor IOSH is currently treating this issue as a high priority.

My advice would be to inist on seeing the individual trainers in question delivering some training before you make any final decision about engaging them. Alternatively you could have their training skills objectively assessed by a third party before entering into a contract.

Feel free to get in touch if you would like more information on the latter option.

Hope this helps.

Regards

4 Responses

mike morrison says:

December 7, 2007 at 1:54 pm

IOSH trainers
Hi Donna
The only sensible option here is to go straight to IOSH, otherwise the process will be diluted…
Mike
TrainingZone says:

December 7, 2007 at 5:18 pm

Arian Associates Ltd
Lots of people out there who will offer to do this for you Donna, but the comment below about going to the awarding body will point you in the right direction to get the right programme. Can’t see anyone coming up with a better suggestion quite honestly.
Adrian Snook says:

December 17, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Don’t forget the training skills….
Dear Donna

Mike and Peter’s comment make great sense. However, looking for really good train-the-trainer services in relation to Health and Safety training is likely to be far more challenging than simply resourcing some H&S training from a NEBOSH/IOSH recognised external vendor.

Don’t forget that you are essentially looking for a two-part service:

1) Training in the subject matter

2) Best practice training in how to deliver the training.

My own exposure to Health and Safety training (as a learner) suggests that the training skills of some professional H&S trainers can leave a lot to be desired. To an extent this is understandable. Too many employers carry out training in H&S simply so they can prove that they have carried out H&S training! In other words they are simply ticking legislative boxes at the lowest possible cost.

There seems to be an acceptance that H&S training should inevitably be a dull and painful experience for the learner. There even seems to be a school of thought which says the more it hurts the better it is!

All too often H&S training consists of far too much lecture-centred presentation and demonstration and not nearly enough learner centred activity. If you are lucky enough to secure the services of an amusing and charismatic trainer then they can make this poor practice bearable, but these traits are personal and hence strictly non-transferable to third parties.

Don’t forget that the faulty underlying approaches are very likely to assimilated and then replicated by your client’s training personnel. If they are training professionals then they could make improvements, but all too often H&S training is actually delivered by line managers and supervisors. Is this the case for your client?

To my knowledge neither NEBOSH nor IOSH is currently treating this issue as a high priority.

My advice would be to inist on seeing the individual trainers in question delivering some training before you make any final decision about engaging them. Alternatively you could have their training skills objectively assessed by a third party before entering into a contract.

Feel free to get in touch if you would like more information on the latter option.

Hope this helps.

Regards
User deleted says:

December 17, 2007 at 1:13 pm

Health and Safety Trainers
Hi Donna

We are Health and Safety Trainers and Consultants who can possibly provide the support you require. Be pleased to talk you through your requirements to guage what you are looking for.

Call 01292 678484
Thanks
Susan Hodgins