The World Business

Archive for August, 2011

Discusses the importance of OHS training and its applications .

Every experienced manager, supervisor and staff member knows how important OHS training can be. It’s critical in emergencies, and it’s good workplace business practice. Knowing the OHS reporting requirements and even just understanding the issues can make a big difference between a safe workplace and a risk management horror story. Many businesses operate a special OHS management system to ensure best practice and make sure that workplace safety is under full control.

OHS training overview

The basic levels of OHS training are:

• OHS training at induction level- Core OHS practices and orientation

• Risk management training- This is usually a specialized form of training appropriate to the workplace

• OHS delegated officer training- For people delegated to OHS roles in the organization. This includes further training in reporting and documentation of OHS issues and incidents.

Apart from the mandatory OHS training at induction level, these are needs- based training programs. This training is best conducted using a dedicated learning management system which carries out structured training and develops and implements schedules of required training for staff. For OHS training, these systems are ideal. They can be structured for both basic OHS and advanced risk management training like managing an offsite backup service for system crashes or actual risk management courses in legal liability training and related asset management.

OHS compliance training and learning management systems

In many organizations the OHS management system is part of broad based compliance management systems used to ensure statutory compliance and best business practices. Training is conducted within a learning management system, which is a dedicated training management function. OHS compliance is actually a specialized area for many businesses. The OHS issues for businesses can be extremely variable and may require specialist training in areas like hazardous materials, electrical safety, or other industry-specific matters.

In major industries employing large numbers of staff and contractors or staff in remote locations, the learning management systems are invaluable. These systems are designed to manage training efficiently, and can be adapted to any workplace situation. For contractor management, for example, where employers are both obliged to provide OHS training to contractors as well as enforce OHS compliance, OHS compliance training can be delivered on a “customized” basis, dealing with all the issues related to the work on site, site safety, required work practices, risk management and public safety.

Productivity and OHS training management

It’s rarely mentioned that OHS work practices are in fact best practices for any workplace. “Safety” translates directly into practical risk management on the job. It also ensures that hazards like faulty equipment, dangerous wiring, unsafe surfaces and other potentially major liabilities are dealt with promptly and effectively.

This training also saves lives and avoids the kinds of incidents which can wreck lives. Until comparatively recently, about 30 years ago, the workplace was one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Only actual war zones and traffic accidents caused more casualties. Productivity in the workplace can be measured in safety as much as in dollars.

Good business communication and especially public speaking skills are important to have as a part of your marketing mix. Get it wrong, and you’re doing damage to your brand and reputation.

There are various times when we wished we had more business wisdom when it comes to opening our mouths too soon or saying the wrong thing. These are communication mistakes, and we only realize it retrospect, but wished we hadn’t made the mistake in the first place. They can be costly too. We can lose staff, contracts with important clients, and even a misunderstanding with a printing service can cause us to lose more than our pride. It’s important when we are in business to have great communication skills, but sometimes our skills are not as good as we want them to be, and so, if that’s the case, then we need to improve our skills. At least in this article you can finally learn what you shouldn’t be doing, and hopefully avoid this happening to you.

Too Much Information

Often, when business owners get the chance to speak, they will talk about their products and services, the benefits these products will give you, why they are the best in the world, and all the technical details about what they do can overwhelm and even alienate an audience. A better way of tackling this opportunity is to talk about a common problem and then offer a solution — instead of trying to sell your products/services to your audience directly.

Not Understanding Your Audience

The biggest mistake a speaker will make is giving the same presentation with little regard for the audience. You need to understand what your audience wants by analyzing their needs beforehand. In this way, you can give a speech that will solve their problem. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Being Too Technical

The last thing an audience wants to hear is someone who is using industry jargon or technical talk. People will be wondering what you have just said, and will quickly lose the thread of your talk. You don’t want your message being lost, so always be careful to explain any type of jargon. A good idea is to hand out a list of all jargon or technical terms and their definitions before you give your speech.

No Trust

It is important to build trust when you talk to an audience. Always say what you mean and keep good eye contact with your audience as you speak. If you have a good sense of humour, use it, but remember to always be yourself. This will give your audience a chance to get to know — and eventually, trust you.

Too Boring

An audience can be easily bored if you don’t make your speeches entertaining. Your presentation doesn’t have to be filled with jokes, but humour won’t go astray. Every 7 minutes an audience will typically drift away from what you’re talking about and think about something else. To bring them back to you, try using humour, colourful examples, and even shock tactics. Not only should your speech be entertaining, but also any printing material you have with you. In business, first impressions are important.