A Director of Safety suggests a method to improve the quality and effectiveness of Part 46 Annual Refresher Training (ART). His advice is to avoid the "marathon of boredom" associated with a trainer presenting 8 hours of videotapes in a single day. Instead, to provide more enjoyable and effective training he recommends the following:
- Spread quality ART by providing interesting 30 to 60 minute mini-sessions at regular intervals over the entire year. Mini-sessions may total roughly 5 to 6 hours of the 8-hour compliance requirement. Operators must follow their training plan and document the names of trainees, duration, date and type of training presented at mini-sessions.
- Have "specialists" present a single subject during each mini-session.
- At the end of the year hold a special "ART Day." The agenda may include a general meeting to review the past year in terms of accidents, safety audits, MSHA citations, and operational changes along with other pertinent safety and health information obtained since the last meeting. You could also break up the large group into smaller "ART Teams" for a variety of interactive training sessions, such as safety contests (e.g. to find defects on a piece of equipment) and demonstrations. Special incentives such as a company luncheon, safety awards, commemorative T-shirts, safety related door prizes, stickers, ball caps etc. may contribute to an enjoyable and productive training experience.
- Use training videotapes only as a supplement to training sessions. Hands on and interactive training works best.
When you combine "ART Day" activities with the mini-sessions conducted throughout the year, each miner may receive twelve to fourteen hours of refresher training each year and look forward to attending the training sessions. If the ART effort prevents one accident, it is time and money well spent.
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