Outreach Trainer News Update
October 2021
|
|
OSHA Outreach Trainer Ester Karapetyan was recently interviewed by Addie Hosier. |
|
Addie Hosier is the OSHA Outreach Training Program Liaison for the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District. Addie has been conducting a series of interviews with OSHA Outreach Training Safety Superstars. Listen to more interviews on our YouTube Channel.
|
|
Try a Little Kindness for a Safer Workplace
Ensuring safety is kindness in action
|
|
A safe working environment not only protects employees, but also increases productivity. A strong safety culture that emphasizes employee well-being has a significant impact on the performance and survival of organizations by affecting costs related to illness, healthcare, absenteeism and turnover.
Kindness expresses itself when we practice consideration, respect and compassion for the people around us. When we look out for other colleagues, we are showing kindness to them by protecting their lives and the lives of their loved ones. When employers treat their workers with fairness and respect, they don't overwork or put them in dangerous situations, ensuring their well-being and safety.
Here are three ways kindness can contribute to a safer workplace:
- The essence of kindness is to think of others first. Kindness is defined as “any voluntary action with an unselfish intention to benefit others that comes from the heart and does not expect anything in return.” In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, many of us might fail to exercise kindness and recognize others' acts of kindness at work. However, when we think about others, we will look out for one another and remind each other to be safe. With such an attitude, we are also less likely to make hasty decisions that could lead co-workers to be caught in risky situations.
- Kindness in the workplace also creates greater synergy and lasting friendship within the team. We spend more than half our waking hours in our workplace and perhaps even see our colleagues more than our families. Therefore, it is important to have bonds of friendship to support each other through the pressures of work and make the workplace more pleasant and caring. We can start by greeting and smiling at colleagues in common spaces. In time, this can transform into longer conversations and spark a friendship. Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or a helping hand.
- Lastly, being kind to others has profound and measurable physical and mental benefits. Studies have shown that when we do a kind act, our body stimulates certain chemicals such as dopamine, associated with positive thinking, and endorphins, our body’s natural painkiller. Being kind calms our mind and helps us think more clearly when we are stressed or anxious, helping to ensure that decisions made in the workplace are safe for workers to carry out.
Creating a kind, healthy and safe workplace starts with just a little bit of effort by all of us. Challenge yourself to start, show and share kindness at work, and see what a difference it can make.
-Adapted from a blogpost by Dr. William Wan, June 23, 2014
|
|
More Customer Service Tips for Outreach Trainers
|
|
Give these tips a try and let me know how they help you and your business!
Use effective time management
Some may refer to this as “under-promise, over-deliver.” I think of it more as “give a reasonable timeline, meet or exceed expectations.” I have found that when I am having trouble meeting a deadline, thorough and proactive communication can stop bad feelings before they start. I let the client/person know I am still working on meeting their needs, but I may need a bit more time. It’s important to learn from these experiences and change your future processes; make note that you may need to give a different timeline when working on a similar project in the future.
Follow through and follow up
Nothing dazzles a customer quite like going above and beyond. I have a special folder in my email, appropriately titled “Follow Up” where I put conversations that I would like to follow up on after a few weeks. Perhaps I had an email exchange where I advised a new outreach trainer on best practices and steps to take before beginning their first 10-hour class. I like to follow up with them a few weeks later to find out how the class went and if they need assistance with submitting their report. This follow through can make someone feel at ease with you and lets them know that you genuinely care about their success. They are more likely to reach out to you in the future. It also only takes up a few minutes of your time, which I think is definitely worth the payoff!
Suzanne Kohler provides support to our OSHA Outreach Trainers and processes 10-hour and 30-hour outreach reports. She can be reached at skohler@clpccd.org.
|
|
Outreach Trainer Renewal Grace Period Expiring |
|
As of January 1, 2022, there is NO grace period after your trainer authorization expires. If your card has expired, you will need to meet all prerequisite requirements to attend the initial OSHA Trainer course (OSHA #500, #501, etc.) again, including having successfully completed the OSHA Standards course (OSHA #510, #511, etc.) within the last 7 calendar years. Extensions will not be granted.
|
|
Upcoming Outreach Trainer Update Classes |
|
|
|
This is a 3-day refresher course for those who have completed OSHA #500-Trainer Course for the Construction Industry and who are authorized OSHA Outreach trainers. It provides updates on OSHA Construction Industry Standards, policies and regulations. Prerequisites apply.
|
|
November 3-5, 2021 | In-Person | Reno, NV
December 15-17, 2021 | Virtual, Instructor-Led (Zoom)
|
|
|
|
This is a 3-day refresher course for those who have completed OSHA #501-Trainer Course for General Industry and who are authorized trainers in the OSHA Outreach Training Program. It provides updates on OSHA General Industry Standards, policies and regulations. Prerequisites apply.
|
|
December 20-22, 2021 | Virtual, Instructor-Led (Zoom)
|
|
In-Person Classes: Physical distancing and other safety guidelines are followed in all In-Person classes, and class sizes are reduced.
|
|
In Region IX OSHA numbered Virtual, Instructor-Led classes offered via Zoom are only available to participants located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Contact us if you are unsure if this applies to you.
|
|
|
|
OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour General Industry and 10-Hour and 30-Hour Construction Industry Workbooks are now available for purchase. Visit our website for more details.
All OSHA Outreach Training workbooks can be ordered by emailing Jenifer Leigh at jleigh@clpccd.org or by calling (925) 416-5161. (Phone inquiries answered within 24 hours)
|
|
|
|
All 10-hour and 30-hour reports must be submitted electronically. Trainers must register in the portal in order to submit reports. The registration process takes only a few minutes – be sure to have JPEG images or PDF scans of the front and back side of your trainer card ready to upload.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding your OSHA Outreach Training Report, please contact us at (866) 936-6742 or email otc@clpccd.org.
|
|
NEW ADDRESS
5860 Owens Drive
3rd Floor
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Phone: 866-936-6742
Fax: 925-460-0133
E-Mail
|
|
For additional information, contact us by email at otc@clpccd.org or phone 866-936-6742.
The recommendations in this newsletter are advisory in nature, informational in content, and intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
