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24 • ROCK products • May 2015 www.rockproducts.com H ow employees communicate the workplace risks and hazards they identify to their co-workers is a major part of the risk-assessment process. Communication processes contribute substantially to actions employees take to miti- gate risks and hazards. By identifying and understanding the preferred communication processes employees use in the workplace, training and educational efforts can be designed which will improve their ability to recognize and manage risks or hazards they encounter during the work day. This study, modeled after one that was done in 2007 by Jim Joy, was undertaken to identify the communication process employees of OMG Central West Division use in the work- place. It was designed to measure that communication pro- cess employees perceived to be the most effective so that future training or educational efforts can be developed and delivered using processes that are most acceptable to them. By delivering training that fits their preferred communi- cation system, it its expected employees will understand, learn and retain information that is provided to them. When these occur, they will be more prepared to conduct quality risk assessments and act upon hazards they encounter in the workplace. Here are some of the study results: When asked how they find out about changes to their and co-workers normal work duties or about operating differ- ent machines, 75 percent of supervisors and 53 percent of field employees indicated they were told by co-workers and not by managers or supervisors. A high number (95 percent) of field employees, as com- pared to 88 percent of supervisors, indicated they received training on communicating issues or problems related to the site, plant or project. Fewer, (90 percent) of field employees, indicated they had received any training on how to assess and control risk or hazards while 100 percent of supervisors indicated they had been trained. When field employees were asked about receiving training on how to use or conduct T5s, only 60 percent indicated they had received such training and the same number said they had received written materials on how the T5 process works. On the other hand, 88 percent of supervisors ac- knowledged receiving training on T5s but only 75 percent of them said they had received written materials on how the process works. Regarding current training delivery processes, this study found lectures by OMG Midwest supervisors or managers as well as written documents were commonly used to pro- vide training to supervisors while lectures and power point presentations were typically chosen to provide training to field employees. But when asked what their preferred way of having train- ing presented to them was, 71 percent of field employees and 75 percent of supervisors chose Group Discussion. Both groups (83 percent) overwhelmingly agreed that their least favored ways to learn or have training provided was through power point presentations and lectures. Field employees (75 percent) indicated safety issues at their plant, site or project were communicated verbally as opposed to using electronic, hand written notes or posted on a bulletin board. Supervisors also preferred verbal com- munication (94 percent). The same number of field employees (75 percent) said ver- bal communication was their preferred way to communi- cate safety issues or problems; supervisors (94 percent) indicated this was their preferred process to use for com- municating safety issues or problems. All respondents (100 percent) indicated they: • Discuss safety concerns with co-workers. • Discuss new tasks before the start them. • Ask questions when they are unsure about how to do something. Chasing The Elusive 'Zero Incidents' A Study Of OMG Midwest Employees Shows They Prefer Face-To-Face Communication and Safety Training Where Small Group Discussion Can Take Place. By Joe McGuire This is the second of a two-part artcle about safety training focusing on a study of OMG Midwest employees. – Ed. SAFETY