OSHA Long Term Care Worker Protection Train the Trainer Program Part 5: Strategies to Customize Training

Objectives Identify mechanisms that can support customizing training for specific audiences. Discuss creative ways to customize to a multi- departmental audience.

Customizing Training Definition: adapt, change, fashion the content in a way that engages a specific group. Requires: * Knowing your audience – or getting to know them! * Planning. * Willingness to change quickly.

Knowing the Audience Do you know in advance? If not, what can you do? If you plan a session for a specific group, that makes it easy! If open to any employee, then need to find out quickly who is present, what department do they work in, shift hours, whatever will help you to customize your comments.

Strategies Prepare case studies (stories!) that would resonant with different departments. Which employees would relate to: * Lifting/moving a resident. * Lifting/moving equipment/food trays/laundry. * Using computer keyboards. * Cleaning solutions, labeling. * Spills on the floor, clear hallways.

Strategies Be sensitive to experienced vs. new employees. Consider what words you are using to describe a safety and health standard – are the words clear and easy to understand? Are there language differences in the group? What pictures or demonstrations can you use with certain groups? (ie, lifting laundry out of a deep basket, moving heavy equipment, using a gait belt on a resident, using a computer & monitor.)

Strategies Pictures of the different departments in your organization - include in your presentations. Review recent issues/incidents in the organization related to worker safety – what departments were involved, what was the resolution? News items related to safety and health issues in long term care; local, regional, national, global news.

Key to Customizing? Listening. One of the most powerful aspects of communication! This is intentional, focused listening. Listen for the health and safety concerns of workers in each department – what are they saying, what are the real issues? Respond to what you hear by further customizing the educational session….Examples?

Listening This is hard work! It is easy to get distracted when listening. Who do we listen to the most? What helps: repeating what you have heard, asking for clarification, admitting distraction. Practice helps! Let’s try this……

Customizing = Application Helping participants to: * recognize the potential hazards in their work environment. * identify the basic safety and health standards and organizational policies. * realize their accountability to comply with organizational policies on safe procedures and health practices. * know their rights as a worker.

Customizing = Adapting Being prepared with multiple examples. Adapting the content to the audience and their specific roles. How would we customize the following: * Group of kitchen workers……..ergonomics? * Clerical staff………….prevention of spread of infectious diseases? * Housekeeping staff…….hazardous chemicals? * Nursing assistants…….electrical safety?

Customizing All of this is possible when participants are able to recognize the purpose of OSHA and how health and safety standards impact their individual work environments, their roles, and the care of residents.

Questions? Suggestions or Comments?