SAFETY TRAINING:
FIND THE RIGHT HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSE OR MANUAL FOR EVERY NEED

Ensuring that all workers undergo health and safety training can help reduce accidents and injuries in the workplace. All people involved in the PPE programme need to be adequately trained. The training content, method, and frequency should be matched to the nature of the risks and the complexity of the PPE used.

Inclusive and regular refresher training to all PPE wearers and those with PPE programme responsibilities will help maintain the knowledge and skills required for success – training should include both theory and practice.

Training is good, but it’s also important to test your employees to make sure they understand the important concepts and/or can demonstrate that they know how to perform job tasks safely BEFORE you send them out on the floor to work. Don’t forget to test. Without it, you’re only hoping people have learned.

At 3M, we believe that education is key to protection. Our PPE Training Programme is customisable and designed to give your organisation product and educational support. The training can be delivered in a variety of different formats, from classroom to practical demonstration (at your site, 3M training centre or other location) through to online education and webinars.

The first thing you can do is inspect the workplace for hazards. Your safety training won’t be very good unless you know what hazards you’re trying to protect your workers from. A thorough and well-documented risk assessment will help achieve this.

One great model you can follow is known as the hierarchy of controls. The hierarchy of controls gives you a simple pattern to use when trying to control hazards — try elimination first, substitution second, engineering controls third, work practice controls fourth and PPE fifth. Note that PPE is always a last resort and recognise that in some cases you may well use different types of controls in combination (for example, an engineering control and PPE).

The national safety standards provide a step-by-step method for safety trainers. It’s also a good idea to find out the safety training requirements that regulatory agencies like OSHA place on your work site.

At 3M, we believe that education is key to protection. Our PPE Training Programme is customisable and designed to give your organisation product and educational support. The training can be delivered in a variety of different formats, from classroom to practical demonstration (at your site, 3M training centre or other location) through to online education and webinars.

It’s a legal requirement for employers based in the European Union (as well as those in many other countries) to provide adequate and appropriate training for all items of PPE supplied to employees. Furthermore, all people involved in the PPE programme must be adequately trained, not just the workers wearing the PPE.

For many items of PPE, the performance or protection is subject to both how the PPE is used and the anthropometrics of the user. Both can vary considerably, for example awareness of how to use the PPE, how to fit, inspect, care for and maintain the PPE are all important.

Training on how to spot the hazards and why there’s a need for protection can be invaluable in ensuring correct use and compliance with the use of PPE, i.e. PPE that’s used and worn correctly and during all periods of exposure.

It’s important to note the training content, method and frequency should be matched to the nature of the risks, the role of the person within the PPE programme and the complexity of the PPE used.

Safety training should include elements of theory to understand the risks and how the PPE works as well as practice in checking and using the equipment.

Wearers should be trained in the correct use of PPE, how to correctly fit and wear it, and what its limitations are. Managers and supervisors should also be aware of why PPE is being used and how to use it properly. Those involved in cleaning, maintaining, repairing and testing the equipment and its selection for use should also receive training.

At a basic level, training for PPE wearers must cover the following:

The hazards and risks in the workplace to which the PPE will reduce or eliminate exposure
Correct use, limitations and donning / doffing of the PPE
Processes or methods of inspecting and maintaining the PPE in good, clean working order

It’s essential that both workers and managers understand the risks to their health in the workplace and know how to protect against these risks in the best way. That is why we provide a vast array of training, suited to different businesses and individual needs.

A selection of downloadable documents is also available, including selection tools, fit test guides, and guidance on the importance of protection.

Conventional training can often be difficult to manage. We work hard to make sure that our training and tools are accessible to all, which is why we can offer you engaging interactive training on topics relevant to you:

Workplace hazards and health effects
Industry standards and regulations
The approach to protection
3M Personal Safety Solutions

Access our resources online at any time of the day to expand your knowledge on our current range of personal protective equipment for the workplace. Learn what you want, where you want- at a pace that’s right for you.

We believe that with a quality product, it’s important that the customer also receives quality services. Not only do we provide a variety of training and education, but we also have many other tools available to download, such as selection tools, fit test guides, and guidance on the importance of protection.