SCENARIO
The warehouse
You are a newly-hired warehouse worker for the distribution organisation Miller-Oslo (MO). You work in one of their small warehouses with 14 other workers, including the warehouse manager (WM) and two supervisors. Goods weighing up to 1000kg are stored in sealed crates or stacked on pallets and then stretch wrapped. These are then stored on racking until required for shipment by distribution vehicles. There are two loading bays at the back of the warehouse, with floor ramps allowing goods to be loaded onto the vehicles by forklift trucks (FLTs). There is a small kitchen, rest area, toilets for workers, and two side offices - the larger office is the WM’s.
Entrance to the warehouse is by ID card access. There is an intercom system to ring for non-card holders. Visitors who are expected will be escorted while inside the building, and unexpected visitors are denied entrance. On your first day of employment the supervisor on duty gives you a quick tour of the building to start your induction. They make sure you know where the fire exits are before rushing you into the smaller office. Inside, you are seated in front of an old television (TV). Next to the TV is a collection of VHS video cassettes labelled: ‘Induction Part 1’; ‘Part 2 - Fire Safety’; ‘Part 3 - Manual Handling’; and ‘Part 4 - What to Do in an Emergency’. The supervisor leaves you alone while you watch the videos.
The videos appear to apply to all MO warehouses. You learn from the ‘What to do in an emergency’ video that the first-aid box is in reception. You think back to the tour of the building and do not remember seeing a reception area or first-aid box. You learn that personal pagers should be turned off during working hours, and that all accidents or near misses should be reported to your health and safety officer. The video happily states that the health and safety officer will teach you ‘everything you need to know’ about health and safety after the induction ends, and your specific warehouse’s health and safety policies and procedures.
The supervisor returns four hours later when you have finished watching the videos. They have a box of high visibility vests, hard hats and gloves, that you sort through to find your closest size. With the induction training complete, they give you an ID card then take you back into the warehouse for your job training. You cannot see any painted traffic lines on the ground separating the pedestrian path and FLT routes, as shown in the videos, so you ask the supervisor if the videos were incorrect. They sigh and tell you that the lines have needed repainting for a long time. You ask who the health and safety officer is and learn that the warehouse has been trying to hire someone for that position “for years”
Over the next week you are taught your job tasks by the other workers and become friendly with them. They teach you a few methods to save time, but they are not sure if these methods are causing overloading of the racking closest to the loading bay. Later that day you hear the WM shouting at an FLT driver for taking too long to load an order onto a delivery vehicle. The WM gives the FLT driver an immediate verbal warning for causing delays. You overhear the WM muttering that they will not let their reputation of keeping the warehouse ahead of schedule be ruined. The workers nearby whisper “avoid the WM because they only come out of their office when angry”. They also mention that this driver has not even been given time off to complete their FLT training.
The crash
Later that day, as you pass a loading bay you see an FLT speeding around the corner towards you. The driver notices you, panics and desperately tries to change direction. This driver is the one who was shouted at earlier. You jump back onto the loading bay ramp to avoid the FLT. You slip and twist your ankle. You fall to the ground screaming and your ankle swells painfully. The driver swerves the FLT away from the ramp, but the vehicle begins to tilt. They try to recover the situation but within seconds the FLT topples sideways into the nearby racking. The racking collapses and an avalanche of metal and pallets buries the driver.
A week later, after the warehouse has reopened, the workers call a meeting. You are on sick leave for your injured ankle but decide to attend. When you arrive, you hear shouting from the smaller office. The shouting does not stop as you enter, and you see all of the workers are there, except the FLT driver. Several people are having a loud argument with the WM. The WM notices you sitting down and resting your leg in an ankle brace on a chair. They sneer and point out that this meeting cannot be so important if the FLT driver cannot be ‘bothered’ to show up. The room goes silent. Everyone is horrified by the WM’s comments. One of the workers informs the WM that the FLT driver is in hospital. As a result of the accident they are in a coma and have a crushed skull. The WM finally stops arguing.
Your colleagues demand change. This was the worst accident so far and “cannot be ignored this time”. Eventually the WM reveals that MO are hiring a health and safety consultant to make recommendations for improvements. The WM then starts arguing again, blaming the FLT driver entirely for the accident. They claim this meeting is an excuse for everyone not to work and that they will never allow a worker-demanded meeting again
The health and safety consultant (HSC)
The HSC arrives two days later. They spend the first day talking with the WM and looking through paperwork. The next day the HSC gathers the workers and supervisors together, deliberately excluding the WM. They introduce themself, then explain that they will speak to everyone as a group to better understand the warehouse and workforce. They will also speak to everyone individually but assure them that conversations will be confidential.
The two supervisors welcome the HSC because “management might finally listen”. Everyone had been complaining about time pressure and safety concerns for months. They were ignored, so they stopped trying to talk to the WM about it. One of the supervisors says that they are meant to be taking a NEBOSH qualification on behalf of the warehouse, but they have repeatedly been refused time off to study. Another worker furiously recalls that the traffic route lines were meant to be repainted yearly, but the WM always cancelled it because the work would “cause delays”.
Task 2: Determining what is effective about induction training
Task 2 Induction training
Good and effective points about induction training
1. Basic Orientation was provided- Employees receive a
basic tour of the warehouse facilities, helping them become acquainted with the
layout. The location of fire exits is highlighted during the tour, which is
crucial for emergency preparedness.
2. Training Materials: Training materials in the form of
VHS video cassettes are provided, indicating an attempt to deliver information
to new employees. While outdated, these materials suggest an initial effort to
convey important safety information.
3. ID Card Access and Visitor Procedures- Entrance to the warehouse is
controlled through ID card access, promoting security and controlling
unauthorized access. Visitors are escorted when inside the building, ensuring
they are accounted for and monitored during their stay. Unexpected visitors are
denied entrance, enhancing security measures.
Shortcomings
and ineffectiveness in the induction training at the warehouse:
- Generic and Non-Tailored Content-The provided VHS video
cassettes labeled 'Induction' appear to be generic and not specific to the
warehouse, making it unclear how the training relates to the actual
workplace.
- Lack of Warehouse-Specific
Information-The
induction training lacks critical warehouse-specific information, such as
the location of safety equipment, specific safety hazards within the
warehouse, and procedures unique to the facility.
- Absence of Health and Safety
Officer-The
video mentions that a health and safety officer will teach employees
everything they need to know about health and safety after the induction,
but the warehouse has been trying to hire someone for that position for
years. This absence raises concerns about who will oversee safety in the
meantime.
- Outdated Training Materials-The use of VHS video cassettes
suggests that the training materials are outdated and not in line with
modern training methods and technology.
- Inadequate Safety Information: There is no mention of
specific safety protocols, emergency procedures, or how to respond to
workplace accidents or incidents. The absence of clear guidance on the location
of the first-aid box is a significant safety oversight.
- Lack of Interactivity and
Engagement:The
training appears passive and lacks interactivity or engagement, such as
discussions, hands-on demonstrations, or interactive assessments that
could help reinforce learning.
- Inadequate Familiarization with
Workplace-While
employees receive a basic tour, it is rushed, and there is no mention of
detailed familiarization with the workplace layout, including the
locations of specific departments or equipment.
- Incomplete Information: -The absence of painted
traffic lines separating pedestrian paths from forklift routes, as
mentioned in the video, highlights discrepancies between the training
content and the actual conditions in the warehouse.
- Failure to Address Worker
Concerns: The
induction training does not address concerns raised by workers, such as
time pressure, inadequate training for certain roles (e.g., FLT drivers),
and maintenance issues.
- Lack of Continuous Learning: The video mentions that a
health and safety officer will provide further training, but it does not
emphasize the importance of continuous learning and ongoing safety
education.
- No Personalization: The induction lacks
personalization, with no individual assessment or tailoring of training
content to the specific roles and needs of each employee.
- Ineffective Communication: The training does not foster
open communication channels for employees to raise safety concerns, report
accidents or near misses, or seek clarification on safety issues.
These
shortcomings highlight the need for a more comprehensive, tailored, and
up-to-date induction training program that addresses specific workplace
hazards, safety procedures, and the organization's commitment to safety and
health.
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