Recorded presentation

Dorothy Wigmore, Occupational hygienist/ergonomist, Educator, 133 Langside St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 1Z5, Canada, 204-774-4826, dorothyw@web.ca

A 2002 occupational health and safety needs assessment of Winnipeg Regional Health Authority facilities found that joint health and safety committee members lacked training. (These committees have been required in Manitoba since 1977, and members have had the right to training, at employer expense, since 1982.) In response, a 16-hour course was developed, along with a five-day train-the-trainer workshop. The spiral model of learning was the basis of both. It starts with participants’ experiences, uses participatory methods (eg. games, small group discussions) and eschews the “Power point” presentation style. Joint committee members from three types of WRHA facilities participated in the demonstration courses. After doing body maps about their own symptoms, they were introduced to, and discussed, sectoral statistics, hazard categories and inspections, made workplace maps and played a game to practice the principles of prevention and control. Only then was legislation introduced and used (in a game), followed by practical process skills using participant-generated problems. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations showed the participants gained knowledge (whatever their experience or training), liked the tools and concepts, went away with increased confidence about fulfilling their responsibilities, and had fun. The course outline will be presented, along with the demonstration course evaluation results and subsequent feedback. (More than 250 committee members were trained in six months. Another 450-plus WRHA managers got a two-hour version introducing them to their responsibilities.) The ingredients of successful health and safety training will be discussed, using the findings and feedback.

Learning Objectives: