6. Safety Training Records

Detailed recordkeeping is an essential aspect of any compliant training program. In addition to simplifying tracking, documenting your training can assist in determining when refresher or annual training is needed. Plus, training records are sure to be reviewed during an OHS inspection to ensure your organization is in compliance, so it pays to be thorough.

Keeping records helps maintain an effective workplace health and safety management system. Records can help hazards and control risks before there is an incident which could cause injury or illness.

Training records have several uses during day-to-day operations. Use your records to:

• Help determine when annual refresher training is required.
• Keep track of an employee’s qualifications for a job assignment. If you see someone doing a job that requires specialized training, you can easily check to be certain he’s received that training.
• Help you identify workers who have a solid training history and may be ready to handle more specialized training for jobs with more responsibility.

You should be prepared to periodically submit reports to management on:

• What training has taken place?
• Who’s been trained?
• How much time was devoted to training?
• What training materials are available?
• How well training objectives have been met?
• How training has improved safety?
• What training is planned for the future?

No matter what field your company operates in, training will be a key part of ensuring your operations run smoothly. When it comes to industries such as construction, mining, oil & gas, or transportation, this is particularly true. Good quality, in-depth training is essential for achieving a workforce of competent and skilled employees capable of carrying out their duties safely and effectively. But how do you keep track of the training needs of your firm? That often depends on the size of your organization. The way a small family-owned company organizes its training records, for example, is likely to differ greatly from the methods employed by a multinational. However, some central principles remain the same, regardless of size, turnover, or the number of employees on your books.

It is imperative to know what training an employee has completed. Proper certificates need to be stored and easily accessible when required. Most training has an expiry date and keeping on top of both company and legal requirements is a necessity for avoiding accidents and maintaining a safe and efficient workforce. If you are a small firm, you may still be managing this process through the use of a spreadsheet. However, handling training records in this way has many limitations and runs the risk of missed requirements. A Training Record Management System (TRMS).

These are some of the best ways to maintain your training records in the workplace:

1. Digitize Your Records

Storing paper records takes up a large amount of space and requires extensive time to file properly. Manually searching for specific records through multiple cabinets upon request can waste hours of valuable company time. Hours have often been lost tracking down critical documentation that was misfiled or misplaced completely. Digitizing your records ensures files are not misplaced and are accessible on demand. Storing all records and documentation in a cloud-based system allows you to save money on space and time typically allotted to physical paper storage. Sophisticated search functions can locate and produce a document with a few keystrokes and employing the use of an online storage system means you can access this information from your PC, laptop, or mobile device.

2. Automate

One of the main downsides of using a spreadsheet for your company’s training records is the time-intensive labour of ensuring the requirements are satisfied and up to date. Each employee has specific training needs. Overlooking a requirement or expiration can lead to severe consequences if an avoidable accident occurs. Automating the whole process removes this risk. A training matrix allows you to input all the roles in your organization and cross-reference them with the types of training and orientations required for that role. An automated system will assign required training to the relevant people, ensuring every employee in your small or large organization has its requirements to proceed safely. Expiration dates can be tracked and supervisors and employees can be notified of upcoming expiries and auto-assign training to the individual.

3. Use Reporting Functions

Any great training record system will have robust reporting features built-in. It is essential to be able to produce visual reports quickly and easily to give an overview of training gaps. Gap analysis reports help to identify any training that is outstanding so it can easily be adjusted. From a broader perspective, it can highlight if there are issues with training not being completed in specific departments or sites. Having access to detailed, customized reports is invaluable and can identify training gaps and areas where you may be overspending on training. This allows you to redirect resources to where they are most needed.

4. Designate an Employee

It is important to designate a supervisor or administrator to oversee the training and management of records and documents for your company. The size and structure of your organization are likely to dictate who you choose for this role. In a small firm, coordinating training and records may be only one aspect of the employee’s duties. In large companies employing thousands of people, there might be an entire team dedicated to this. However, having designated people for training and record-keeping ensures there is no confusion on responsibility.

5. Training Record Management System

A TRMS handles all training needs in one system. All the information you need relating to training will be in one place - accessible from anywhere. It automates the processes that are ordinarily very time-consuming such as identifying who needs what training, when they completed it, or when it is expired. Reporting functions enable you to produce detailed customized reports for insight into how your company’s training. A designated person will still be necessary to oversee your company’s training, however, a TRMS allows everyone to share the responsibility by uploading certificates, receiving expiry notifications directly, and completing auto-assigned training promptly.

Maintaining training records in the workplace is essential for the effective operation of any company. Whether you are a small business or a multinational, you need to keep on top of training needs and ensure that all legal requirements are met. The maintenance of training records and certificates is critical to operating a safe and efficient work site.