Are we Educators or Trainers?

A recent article from SHP online (linked to at the end of this article) raises a number of interesting points, which should be recognised by many trainers, covering Health and Safety as well as other subjects.

Amongst other issues in the article the question is asked, at what point does education become training? Could it be said that all training is education, but that not all education is training or more simply are the two things entirely different?

The author Ian Pemberton argues well that the training that goes on today is too heavily based on education (theory based work) and not enough on practical workplace-based learning. His theory is that because of the requirements laid down by national agencies and governing bodies, the courses available have too large a content based on theory, telling people why they need to know something and not enough time telling them how to actually do it safely.

He then takes this one stage further by suggesting that instead of subject-based training we should be offering job- or task-based training. The reasoning behind this being that if we were to train in a job situation we could cover all the safety aspects relating to that job in one go rather than the worker doing one course one day on one subject and then another course the next and so on. Removing all but the very basic theory aspects would allow us then to concentrate the training to suit the person and the client, not the trainer.

While we're not being one hundred percent in agreement with all these principles, the application of the theories would seem to be problematic, the overall principal is something we at C&D would wholeheartedly agree with. Indeed, our mantra “Training when the client wants it, not when the trainer wants it” is testament to our belief that this is the way forward. Couple to this the movement by our trainers towards a more hands-on experiential based approach to training and you can see that in many ways we have already adopted some of these principals. Just how far do we take them?

This is a brief synopsis and discussion of a much more detailed piece which is well worth reading by all professional health and safety trainers. Here is the link to the article:

http://www.shponline.co.uk/getting-health-safety-training/

NDTG train the trainers

At the end of March the NDTG Training Centre in Hertfordshire opened its doors to a different audience. Rather than training those who needed training, instead they trained the trainers. More specifically, Training Administrators and Managers.

The half day session was free and hosted by NDTG Group Manager Sophie Cox and Centre Coordinator Kaila Francis. It focused on the CCDO and CPCS Schemes as well as introducing the Specialist Programmes. The experience of those who attended ranged from 2 weeks to more than 5 years, making it a varied, but no less interesting and useful session for all involved.

The session benefited both those being trained and the trainers because the role of trainer is so varied and constantly changing. In fact, by holding this training session, the NDTG has had some ideas about streamlining services.

Source: NDTG

C&D increase the number of PTTLS qualified trainers to meet demand for courses

As orders continue to come in for courses in 2014 it has become apparent that not only are there not enough Saturdays for client training needs, but we need to increase the number of PTTLS qualified trainers to meet demand for our courses. We have, therefore, taken the decision to increase the number of trainers on our books to 10.

This increase has been driven by the high demand for our new 1, 2, 3 suite of Work at Height courses, which is proving popular with clients and trainees in equal measure.

If you need training in 2014 please email margaret@demolishdismantle.co.uk for dates, but please bear in mind that Saturdays will fill up very quickly and we are currently looking at dates in late March and early April for some courses. It is always worth asking for a Saturday, though, as we do get cancellations from time to time.

Working with Balfour Beatty and Mansell

Do you currently work with, or hope to work with, Balfour Beatty and Mansell? If so you will be aware of their excellent H&S initiative "Zero Harm".

But are you aware that companies who have embraced Zero Harm training are more likely to win contracts from both companies?

Zero Harm is designed to change behaviour and results show that it does and accidents and near misses are considerably reduced.

Here at C&D we are approved Zero Harm trainers and can deliver the course to your workforce on site or in the training room.

For more details of the course please contact john.woodward@demolishdismantle.co.uk