OSHA and OHS laws require employers to give workers the health and safety training they need to perform their jobs. Supervisors are among the workers who require training. While supervisor training is commonplace in larger companies that have their own safety departments, it's not always provided in smaller companies. Thus, an inexperienced, untrained supervisor in a very small company may feel overwhelmed and lacking in support.

10 Tips to Overcome Lack of Training Support

Here are 10 suggestions for new supervisors who feel as if they lack support and training necessary to perform their responsibilities:

1. Approach management and ask for OSH training. Mention that the company will be held liable if lack of training leads to an incident in which workers are injured or killed.
2. Visit the state or provincial workers' compensation or health and safety department website. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (www.osha.gov) is another excellent source of safety information.
3. Attend a supervisory training course. Organizations such as the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering and the National Safety Council offer inexpensive online, national and local courses on safety, health and environmental issues.
4. Read safety newsletters, magazines and other publications.
5. Browse the company library of safety and industry information. Check out books, magazines and CDs.
6. Also look for information at community libraries. Besides the public library, the local college, technical school or university library may be available to the public for a small annual fee.
7. Look into distance education. Most colleges and universities now offer courses by video, mail or online. Some educational institutions operate solely on the Internet without a physical location.
8. Contact the local workers' compensation authority and ask about courses or materials for safety leadership and training.
9. Look into work-related night courses and weekend seminars. Maybe the company can help with tuition and textbooks or at least create a flexible work schedule. But if company assistance isn't available, consider course and seminar possibilities. After all, new training always benefits the individual.
10. For leadership and communication skills, contact a local Toastmaster's chapter. The listening and speaking skills learned are invaluable to those in a supervisory role.

Conclusion

New supervisors should not be left to find their own way. Ideally, the employer should provide at least some basic orientation and leadership training. But those who find themselves without corporate support must be proactive. Make a list of what it is you need to do your job properly and then find a way - either through your employer or on your own - to develop the skills.

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