5 Reasons Why Your Contractors Need a Safety Trainer 

Protecting workers on the job site is paramount, and having a safety program is essential to meet compliance standards and minimize injuries. However, not all hiring clients implement a safety program, and many who must still review and enhance it reflect industry changes and trends that introduce new hazards. These processes might require hiring a safety trainer to review, improve, and teach those programs to contractors.

This article discusses five reasons why hiring clients should consider hiring an expert to conduct safety training and steps for identifying the best candidate.

5 Reasons to Hire a Safety Trainer

1. They Foster a Safer Work Environment

Contractors are entitled to a safe working environment, and hiring a safety trainer to guide onsite workers through general safety practices is a practical starting point.

Those fundamentals might include the following:

• Properly using and maintaining tools and equipment
• Choosing the right PPE and using it properly
• Quickly and accurately reporting accidents and near misses

A safe workplace is the cornerstone of any successful project, and companies that train their onsite workers on safety principles are much more likely to avoid accidents and incidents.

2. They Boost Efficiency and Productivity

Projects require quick turnarounds in today’s fast-paced world, so companies might view searching for and hiring safety trainers as a waste of time. However, there are many ways in which safety training can boost a company’s efficiency and productivity.

More specifically, the most effective safety procedures involve concise language and following specific steps to define tasks clearly. Straightforward processes allow workers to complete projects safely and efficiently, and an experienced safety trainer familiar with these procedures can communicate them effectively.

Additionally, when hiring clients put the proper procedures in place, they reduce worker angst. Workers following clear guidelines perform their duties with less concern for unknown hazardous conditions, improving their focus on the job and working productively.

3. A Safety Trainer Helps Avoid Unnecessary Expenses

Without a doubt, the most critical reason to maximize workplace safety is protecting the lives of everyone on the job site, as nothing is more important than their well-being.

However, accidents present a secondary concern: potentially significant (but avoidable) expenses, including the following:

• Lawsuits
• Equipment and property damage
• Medical bills
• Worker compensation
• New hire costs

A safety trainer can help companies avoid incident-related expenses by teaching teams to operate more transparently, helping the company reduce costs. Streamlined processes result in reduced time allocation to specific duties, thereby improving the efficiency of working hours.

4. They Develop Safety Polices that Create the Right Culture

Companies can show dedication to safeguarding their workers from harm by hiring a safety trainer to help develop and educate workers on safety policies and why building the right work culture is critical to team safety and success.

Taking safety seriously builds positive contractor relations, and workers who perceive a sense of security and worth from their employers tend to be more loyal to their company and are less likely to resign.

Furthermore, many candidates for new jobs will value a company culture prioritizing safety and security – particularly in high-hazard environments. A secure and protected workplace can attract many exceptionally qualified applicants, helping an organization construct a productive workforce.

5. They Provide Ongoing Auditing and Monitoring

Auditing and monitoring a job site can be critical responsibilities of a safety trainer for several reasons, including the following:

• Ensuring that the workplace follows all relevant health and safety regulations.
• Maintaining and improving safety standards over time and ensuring safety practices are consistently followed by everyone in the workplace.
• Supplying essential feedback to both management and contractors
• Ensuring all emergency equipment, like fire extinguishers and first aid kits, are in place and functional.

While these may be tasks internal employees can handle to some degree, they often require considerable time investments, a higher level of expertise, and a third-party, unbiased point of view that only a safety trainer can provide.

How to Select the Best Safety Trainer

Choosing the best safety trainer for a specific worksite is not always straightforward, and companies have many factors to consider. As such, the steps companies might follow to select the best candidate include the following:

Assess the Current Needs

Before searching for a safety trainer, companies must find their precise training objectives and needs, which requires identifying the following:

• The job site’s current risks and hazards
• The relevant legal and industry standards
• The areas of expertise and proficiency in which workers must improve
• The process for assessing the training program’s efficacy

Verify the Safety Trainer’s Credentials

Once the organization understands its requirements, it can find a safety trainer to fulfill those expectations, which includes meeting the following criteria:

• Workplace safety-related credentials
• Certifications
• Relevant experience
• An understanding of industry-specific challenges and regulations

Communicate the Expectations

Once the company has selected its candidate, it should inform the trainer of the expectations and prerequisites, including the training program’s learning outcomes and goals. Additionally, they should specify the duties and responsibilities of both parties, including the trainer’s:

• Compensation
• Materials
• Available resources
• Participation in the organization

Combining a Safety Trainer with the Best Software Solutions is Critical

Implementing and tracking safety training for workers, mainly if a team performs complex tasks requiring a wide range of certifications and specializations, can prove a challenging task for in-house staff. On the other hand, safety trainers have the skills and experience to help teams prevent expensive accidents and lost output, thereby recouping the up-front costs of hiring them.

However, hiring the right safety trainer only solves part of the equation. You must combine the proper training and policies with an overarching software solution that brings all aspects of the safety program together, safeguarding everyone from potential hazards on the job site.

Consider working with us to configure a solution that meets your needs and helps you follow safety policies and standards.

Contact us today to learn more.