Important Notices & Accommodations

Program Description

This program provides information and content that goes beyond the Basics of Supervising training program which helps supervisors learn what health and safety tasks they need to complete to ensure they are in compliance. This new one-day Communication Skills for Supervising Health & Safety training program will build on what was learned in Basics of Supervising and will help supervisors learn how to complete those health and safety tasks.

Supervisors will learn that improved interpersonal skills will lead to improved proficiency and effectiveness with the four main supervisor health and safety tasks: inspecting, communicating, investigating, and enforcing.

This fast-paced, participant-centred training program is filled with fresh perspectives, self-assessment tools, and small group learning activities all focused on improving a supervisor’s communication skills and effectiveness with the health and safety tasks and activities associated with:

• Vulnerable workers, and
• Priority hazard areas.

Program Content

The Communication Skills for Supervising Health & Safety program has 5 modules:

1. Vulnerable workers and the supervisor
2. Inspect the workplace
3. Communicate the hazards
4. Investigate incidents
5. Enforce the rules

Program Introduction reviews the key message of the Basics of Supervising training and the definition of a supervisor as a competent person. The program introduction also includes a multiple-choice pre-test and a self-assessment exercise about the participant’s own competence level with 12 essential health and safety responsibilities of a supervisor.

Module 1 – Vulnerable Workers and the Supervisor defines and discusses vulnerable workers and includes a self-assessment exercise for supervisors to identify and describe the vulnerable workers in their own workplace. The module introduces the communication skills and techniques that will be discussed and practiced during the training program. Also included are ways to motivate workers to work safely and a discussion about communication barriers workers face when asking questions and/or reporting hazards to their supervisor.

Module 2 – Inspect the Workplace is the first of four modules aimed at the supervisor’s four main health and safety tasks. The module introduces four priority hazard areas as well as the purpose and process of inspections. Also included is a self-assessment exercise for supervisors to identify the priority hazards in their own workplace and a learning exercise about the important questions supervisors should ask their workers during inspections. The module also looks briefly at COR™ audit questions pertaining to workplace inspections.

Module 3 – Communicate the Hazards is the second of four modules aimed at the supervisor’s four main health and safety tasks. The module introduces verbal and non-verbal communication techniques that help make safety talks effective. Most of the module is a small group learning exercise where supervisors practice delivering safety talks using the communication techniques. Also included is a simple framework that supervisors can use to build their own safety talks. The module also looks briefly at COR™ audit questions pertaining to training and communications.

Module 4 – Investigate Incidents is the third of four modules aimed at the supervisor’s four main health and safety tasks. The module recaps the steps involved in incident investigations, especially witness interviews, and introduces the topic of active listening and techniques. Most of the module is a small group learning exercise where supervisors practice using the active listening techniques to interview witnesses using the SOLER model (Squarely face the person – Open posture – Lean forward – Eye Contact – Relaxed). The module also looks briefly at COR™ audit questions pertaining to investigating and reporting.

Module 5 – Enforce the Rules is the last of four modules aimed at the supervisor’s four main health and safety tasks. The module considers the value of enforcement and the importance of a supervisor sending the right message by following the workplace health and safety rules and procedures. There is a discussion about progressive discipline and a learning exercise where supervisors practice giving constructive feedback using the SBI method (situation-behaviour-impact). The module also looks briefly at COR™ audit questions pertaining to company rules.

Program Closing includes an individual debrief learning exercise where supervisors review the program topics and identify a specific action(s) they will take as a result of training and identify the people to look to for help. There is a closing discussion about the transfer of learning to the workplace and a set of transfer-of-learning tools to help supervisors practice the new skills they have learned. The program closes with a 20-question multiple-choice knowledge evaluation.

Who Should Attend?

Supervisors of all levels who have successfully completed IHSA’s Basics of Supervising course.

Prerequisites

IHSA's Basics of Supervising (BOS) training is a prerequisite because Communication Skills for Supervising Health & Safety (CSSHS) builds on the knowledge and skills learned at BOS training. IHSA expects that participants have successfully completed BOS training before attending CSSHS training.

Personal Protective Equipment / What to Bring

Participants must wear appropriate clothing.

Learning Evaluation

Participants must take part in a series of worksheet exercises and successfully complete a written multiple-choice Knowledge Evaluation with a grade of 75% in order to receive a Certificate of Completion from IHSA.

Participant Course Evaluation

At the end of the training, participants will have the opportunity to evaluate and provide comments about the training they received.